"Your segment calls the attack a “two-day operation”. The word “operation” gives the impression of being less serious and glosses over the infrastructure damage and civilian injuries and death. It once again ignores the crucial context that the Israeli military is an illegally occupying force that Palestinians are victims of."
July 5, 2023
To:
Neil Herland, Host, The World This Hour on CBC Radio One
Peter Leo, Producer, CBC
Dear Neil Herland and Peter Leo,
I’m writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to express our concerns regarding a radio segment about Israel’s actions in the Jenin refugee camp which aired during The World This Hour on CBC Radio One on July 5, 2023.
The transcript of the section of concern reads:
“The Israeli military has pulled its troops out of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, ending a two-day operation designed to inflict damage on Palestinian militant groups.”
Jenin is a densely populated refugee camp. Israel’s attack was not merely designed to “inflict damage on Palestinian militant groups.” The attack led to the deaths of four Palestinian children. Israeli bulldozers destroyed public infrastructure and private property. Israeli soldiers were filmed shooting press cameras. There are reports of ambulances being prevented from accessing the camp. The United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner released a statement today that the attack may constitute a war crime.
I urge you to include this critical context in your future reporting and not perpetuate misleading claims, like that the attack was “precise,” “targeted,” or designed only to hurt militants. You might instead report:
“UN experts say Israel’s military raid amounted to ‘egregious violations of international law and may constitute a war crime.’”
Additionally, Israeli military attacks are often acts of collective punishment to try and stamp out Palestinian resistance. Collective punishment, which has historically been used by colonial powers to stop resistance activity, is illegal under international law.
Finally, your segment calls the attack a “two-day operation”. The word “operation” gives the impression of being less serious and glosses over the infrastructure damage and civilian injuries and death. It once again ignores the crucial context that the Israeli military is an illegally occupying force that Palestinians are victims of.
I insist that all future segments relating to this issue stop using the word “operation” and instead use “invasion”.
I hope to see these changes applied in future coverage. Should you wish, you can contact me at 438-380-5410 for more information.
Sincerely,
Yasmeen Amer
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East