"First, you state that “Under international law, all Israeli settlements in occupied territory are illegal.” My organization has long been concerned with AP’s descriptions of Israel’s occupation in the context of international law. However, this sentence is a significant improvement and we applaud its use in this article and encourage AP to use it more often."
June 28, 2023
To:
Edith M. Lederer, Journalist, Associated Press
Josef Federman, News Director, Associated Press
Rebecca Joseph, Online Managing Editor, Global News
Dear Ms. Lederer, Mr. Federman, and Ms. Joseph,
I’m writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to applaud your recent article written by Edith M. Lederer of AP published on the Global News website entitled “U.S., Russia back UN statement urging end to growing West Bank violence.”
First, you state that “Under international law, all Israeli settlements in occupied territory are illegal.” My organization has long been concerned with AP’s descriptions of Israel’s occupation in the context of international law. However, this sentence is a significant improvement and we applaud its use in this article and encourage AP to use it more often. This plain-spoken way of stating the facts provides readers with critical context amidst a volatile period in the region.
Second, you reference the June 19 raid on the Jenin Refugee Camp by Israeli forces that left 7 Palestinians dead. Again, many articles omit this when discussing the recent attack on 4 Israeli settlers by Hamas. It is essential that media discuss events in their given context, and this article meets that standard.
Finally, you do not write in a way that justifies or rationalizes violence against Palestinians. Rather than stating, as usual, that Israeli military attacks were “in response” to a vague series of Palestinian attacks, you highlight the asymmetry of the conflict. You write simply that “This year has been one of the deadliest for Palestinians in the West Bank in years.”
We smile upon this concise, factual, fair coverage and encourage AP to use this article as an example going forward.
If you would like to discuss this matter further, please contact me at 438-380-5410.
Sincerely,
Jason Toney
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
Director of Media Advocacy