"Your description legitimizes Ben-Gvir’s extremist position, which is out of step with the vast majority of the international community, let alone human rights groups, or Canadian foreign policy. Ben-Gvir is a member of Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), which is a far-right and racist party with origins in Kahanism, a fascist and terroristic movement which calls for the expulsion of Palestinians from Israel."
July 28, 2023
To:
Rose Kingdon, Director of Broadcast News, Canadian Press
Dear Ms. Kingdon,
I'm writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to express serious concern about a radio news segment written by the Canadian Press and broadcast on various stations across Canada, including City News 95.7 (CJNI) at 2:56 a.m. local time on July 27.The transcript reads:
“Palestinian health officials say Israel military fire killed a 14-year-old Palestinian in the occupied West Bank. The death came hours before an extreme Israeli Cabinet Minister visited a sensitive Jerusalem mosque that has been a frequent flashpoint for violence between Israel and the Palestinians. The visit to the disputed hilltop compound was likely to draw condemnation from Palestinians who view such visits as provocation.”
The segment is discussing Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is located in East Jerusalem, which is occupied Palestinian territory. To describe is as a “sensitive Jerusalem mosque” and describing it as a “disputed hilltop compound” obscures the fact that East Jerusalem is considered occupied Palestinian territory under international law. This is not an opinion, but a matter of a 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. Similarly, the Canadian government does not recognize Israel's unilateral annexation of East Jerusalem but considers the territory to be occupied.
Your description legitimizes Ben-Gvir’s extremist position, which is out of step with the vast majority of the international community, let alone human rights groups, or Canadian foreign policy. Ben-Gvir is a member of Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), which is a far-right and racist party with origins in Kahanism, a fascist and terroristic movement which calls for the expulsion of Palestinians from Israel. Ben-Gvir himself has said, “Jerusalem is ours. The Palestinians can go to – the Gaza Strip should also be ours – can go to Saudi Arabia or other places, like Iraq or Iran. Not here, this is our place. Israel is our country.” [i]
I urge the Canadian Press to issue a clarification and ensure that such misleading statements are not repeated in future coverage.
Should you wish, you can contact me at 438-380-5410 for more information.
Sincerely,
Jason Toney
Director of Media Advocacy, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
[i] Vice News, “‘Palestinians Should Go to Saudi Arabia’: The Extremist in Charge of Israel’s Security,” March 10, 2023, https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9mq3/itamar-ben-gvir-israel