"Your news segment incorrectly refers to the celebrations in 'Israel' when they are in occupied East Jerusalem, which is considered occupied Palestinian territory according to international law [...] Further, while referring to worshippers as Christians is correct, you are erasing their identity as Palestinian Christian worshippers living under Israeli occupation. It is crucial to describe Christian worshippers as ‘Palestinian’ in order to provide important context for the listeners."
April 17, 2023
To:
Amber LeBlanc, News Director, CityNews
Melissa Duggan, Senior International Reporter and Producer, CityNews
Dear Ms. Leblanc and Ms. Duggan,
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 immediate on-air correction regarding your news segment titled, “Christians in Israel celebrate ‘holy fire’” aired by CityNews at Six on April 15, 2023.
I appreciate your coverage of Palestinian Christian celebrations in occupied East Jerusalem. However, you make a false claim that must be promptly corrected.
Your news segment incorrectly refers to the celebrations in “Israel” when they are in occupied East Jerusalem, which is considered occupied Palestinian territory according to international law. This is not an opinion but a matter of settled consensus at the international level as confirmed by the United Nations Security Council, the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, and the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Claiming that “Jerusalem’s Old City” is located within Israel’s recognized borders is incorrect and misleading. As such, I insist you issue an on-air correction stating, “The Old City of Jerusalem is not in Israel but in occupied Palestinian Territory.”
Further, while referring to worshippers as Christians is correct, you are erasing their identity as Palestinian Christian worshippers living under Israeli occupation. It is crucial to describe Christian worshippers as ‘Palestinian’ in order to provide important context for the listeners.
This is especially critical in the wake of increased arbitrary restrictions on Palestinian Christian worshippers preventing them from entering the Holy Sepulchre. In fact, videos circulating on social media show Israeli soldiers beating young men, harassing women and pushing clerics who were heading to the church. As such, I insist that future reporting on Palestinian Christians correctly refer to them as “Palestinian.”
If nothing is done to address my concerns I will be forced to issue a complaint with the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council (CBSC).
Thank you in advance 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