"Your news segment incorrectly refers to the prayers as taking place 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. The official Canadian position, likewise, does not recognize Israeli control over East Jerusalem (including the old city and the Al Aqsa mosque.)"
April 21, 2023
To:
Scott Hurst, Reporter and Anchor, News Director, CP24 & CTV News
James Lewis, Supervising Producer, CTV News Toronto
Theresa Dixon, Newsroom Assistant, CTV News Toronto
Dear Mr. Hurst, Mr. Lewis and Ms. Dixon,
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 reporting on Palestinian worshipers praying in Al-Aqsa Mosque for Eid Al-Fitr aired by CP24 on April 21, 2023.
I appreciate your coverage of Eid Al-Fitr prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. However, you make a false claim that must be promptly corrected.
Your news segment incorrectly refers to the prayers as taking place 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. The official Canadian position, likewise, does not recognize Israeli control over East Jerusalem (including the old city and the Al Aqsa mosque.)
Claiming that “Jerusalem’s Old City” is located within Israel’s recognized borders is incorrect and constitutes a factual error. As such, I insist you issue an on-air correction stating, “The Old City of Jerusalem, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque, is not in Israel but in occupied Palestinian Territory.”
A similar issue was brought to our attention last week when a CityNews segment on the Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem’s Old City falsely claimed that the event took place in “Israel,” rather than occupied East Jerusalem. CityNews promptly corrected their mistake by broadcasting an on-air correction which you can watch here.
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