"To claim that the West Bank is “disputed” is misleading and inaccurate and lends credence to the idea that Israel has a legal claim to it which is the perspective of the Israeli government."
July 21, 2023
To:
Jordana Miller, Journalist, ABC News
Amber Leblanc, News Director, CityNews
Dear Ms. Miller and Ms. Leblanc,
I’m writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to express my concern regarding your coverage of the USA-Israeli Visa Waiver plan agreement which was broadcast by several CityNews radio stations, particularly when you mentioned the West Bank as being “disputed” rather than “Occupied.”
It is very widely accepted by the large majority of the international community that the West Bank has been occupied by Israel since 1967, along with East Jerusalem and Gaza. To claim that the West Bank is “disputed” is misleading and inaccurate and lends credence to the idea that Israel has a legal claim to it which is the perspective of the Israeli government.
The International Press Institute (IPI) advises against the term “disputed,” as "Palestinians and pro-Palestinians feel that reference to disputed areas legitimises the Israeli government’s control of them." I would urge you to read and take seriously the IPI report on “Use With Care: Glossary of Loaded Language in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.”
As such, I insist that you issue an on-air correction in reference to the above and adapt your future coverage.
Should you wish, you can contact me at 438-380-5410 for more information.
Sincerely,
Mohamed Khalaf
Director of Strategic Operations, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East