"However, I take exception to your use of the term ‘apolitical melting pot’ to describe the Israeli armed forces. This is factually incorrect and misleading to your readers."
August 16, 2023
To:
Maayan Lubell, Journalist, Reuters
Brian Moss, Trust Principals, Reuters
Steve Bartlett, Managing Editor, Saltwire
Dear Ms. Lubell, Mr. Moss and Mr. Bartlett,
I’m writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to provide some critique of your news article, “Netanyahu's cabinet spars over military reservists' judicial protests” published on August 15, 2023.
The content of your article clearly demonstrates the internal sparring of members of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s cabinet. However, I take exception to your use of the term ‘apolitical melting pot’ to describe the Israeli armed forces. This is factually incorrect and misleading to your readers.
One of the most misleading myths about Israel is that its armed forces are representative of the population. Even though Israel has a mandatory conscription policy, approximately 21% of Israel’s population are Palestinians who are exempt from military service. Exempting over 20% of their citizens from military service suggests that the military is not diverse and inclusive of the various groups within Israeli society.
Furthermore, Palestinian citizens face additional exclusion and discrimination because citizens who complete military service are provided with economic benefits, employment opportunities and housing subsidies. This is one of the many examples of how Israel maintains exclusionary and discriminatory policies against Palestinians as documented by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
I ask that you remove the phrase “which Israeli’s have long viewed as an apolitical melting pot” from your article as it is factually incorrect and misleading.
Should you have any questions you can contact me at 250-469-4468.
Sincerely,
Debbie Hubbard
CJPME-Okanagan
Kelowna, British Columbia