"To cover such news without making space for this vote’s significance in Palestinians’ eyes, apart from the Palestinian Authority (PA), can contribute to sidelining. This is especially true in light of the PA’s declining popularity."
September 18, 2023
To:
Donovan Vincent, Public Editor, Toronto Star
Josef Federman, News Director, Jerusalem, AP
Dear Donovan Vincent and Josef Federman,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to express concern regarding your September 17 article, “Israel criticizes UN vote to list ruins near ancient Jericho as World Heritage Site in Palestine”.
The article covers Israel’s reaction to the U.N. committee’s Sunday vote to list prehistoric ruins near the ancient West Bank city of Jericho as a World Heritage Site in Palestine.
To cover such news without making space for this vote’s significance in Palestinians’ eyes, apart from the Palestinian Authority (PA), can contribute to sidelining. This is especially true in light of the PA’s declining popularity. Therefore, I insist that you add a diverse Palestinian perspective to your article.
Second, you write that “Israel captured the West Bank, along with Gaza and East Jerusalem, in the 1967 Mideast war.” However, the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip are not “areas captured by Israel in 1967.” This usage – “captured,” as distinct from occupied – runs directly counter (1) to how international law views the military seizure of territory, (2) to how the international diplomatic community currently views Israel’s presence in the Palestinian territories, and (3) to how both words are understood in plain English. In fact, “Canada does not recognize permanent Israeli control over territories occupied in 1967 (the Golan Heights, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip).”
The Fourth Geneva Convention applies in all occupied territory and establishes Israel's obligations as an occupying power, in particular with respect to the humane treatment of the inhabitants of the occupied territories. As referred to in UN Security Council Resolutions 446 and 465, Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The settlements also constitute a serious obstacle to achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.” [1]
The use of the terminology "military occupied" or simply "occupied" is the most accurate way, legally, diplomatically, and etymologically to describe Israel’s rule of these territories. We suggest rephrasing and correcting this sentence so that the information is accurate: “The Palestinians seek the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip - areas occupied by Israel since 1967.”
We expect that these changes are made and taken into account in future reporting.
Should you wish, you can contact me at 438-380-5410 for more information.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
[1] “Canadian Policy on Key Issues in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”, Government of Canada. Last modified 29 Jan. 2023. < https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/mena-moan/israeli-palestinian_policy-politique_israelo-palestinien.aspx?lang=eng>.