"This sentence implies that the 'possibility of friction' results from an 'unusually large influx of worshippers and visitors,' which is an inaccurate claim. It is indeed true that tensions and violence are heightened during the holy month of Ramadan, however, this is due to Israel’s arbitrary restrictions on Palestinians in the city. In fact, the arbitrary imposition of restrictions at Damascus Gate, a key gathering site for Palestinians, was one of the triggers which contributed to the Palestinian uprising and acts of extreme Israeli violence in May of 2021."
March 23, 2023
To:
Isabel Debre, Journalist, Associated Press
Josef Federman, News Director Jerusalem, Associated Press
Anne Marie Owens, Editor-in-Chief, Toronto Star
Donovan Vincent, Public Editor, Toronto Star
Dear Ms. Debre, Mr. Federman, Ms. Owens, and Mr. Vincent,
I’m writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to request an update to your news article titled “Palestinian killed in Israeli military raid in West Bank,” published by Toronto Star (Associated Press) on March 23, 2023.
I appreciate your thorough coverage of a Palestinian killed by Israeli forces during a military raid in the occupied West Bank. However, I take issue with the following sentence in your article:
Ramadan overlaps with the Jewish holiday of Passover in early April, raising the possibility of friction as sacred sites in Jerusalem’s Old City host an unusually large influx of worshippers and visitors.
First, the sentence does not specify that Jerusalem’s Old City is in East Jerusalem, considered occupied Palestinian territory under international law. This is not an opinion but a settled consensus at the international level, as confirmed by the United Nations Security Council and other legal bodies. It is also the long-standing position of the Canadian government. By omitting this critical context, your article obfuscates the reality of the military occupation under which Palestinian residents of Jerusalem live.
As such, I insist that the article is updated to note that the Old City of Jerusalem is in occupied Palestinian territory, according to international law.
Second, the sentence also implies that the “possibility of friction” results from an “unusually large influx of worshippers and visitors,” which is an inaccurate claim. It is indeed true that tensions and violence are heightened during the holy month of Ramadan, however, this is due to Israel’s arbitrary restrictions on Palestinians in the city. In fact, the arbitrary imposition of restrictions at Damascus Gate, a key gathering site for Palestinians, was one of the triggers which contributed to the Palestinian uprising and acts of extreme Israeli violence in May of 2021.
As such, I insist that the article is updated to include the following sentence which provides critical context:
“Israel’s arbitrary restrictions imposed on Palestinians during Ramadan triggers frustration and protest which often lead to Israeli military violence against Palestinians.”
Thank you for making this change. Should you wish, you can contact me at 438-380-5410 for more information.
Sincerely,
Reem Majid
Policy Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East