"Your article makes it sound like Israel has controlled the site since the 1967 war. Given that the article specifically emphasizes the site, this ought to be clarified. Otherwise, casual readers will likely be misled about the governance of the site."
September 28, 2023
To:
Julia Frankel, Journalist, AP
Josef Federman, News Director, Jerusalem, AP
Donovan Vincent, Public Editor, Toronto Star
Your recent article, “Israel says it foiled Iranian plot to target, spy on senior Israeli politicians,” is in need of some clarification.
You wrote “Since Israel captured the site in 1967, Jews have been allowed to visit but not pray there.” However, the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound is not controlled by Israel, but rather the Jerusalem Awqaf Department as part of the Hashemite custodianship of Jerusalem holy sites.
Your article makes it sound like Israel has controlled the site since the 1967 war. Given that the article specifically emphasizes the site, this ought to be clarified. Otherwise, casual readers will likely be misled about the governance of the site.
I hope to see this important change reflected in an update to the article.
Regards,
Jason Toney