"The principal's post on X was anti-Zionist but not antisemitic, which is a shame because your article shifted to an article about antisemitism while only citing pro-Israel organizations such as B'nai Brith and Friends of Simon Wiesanthal Centre. You even mention Education Minister Stephen Lecce saying there’s no room in Ontario for activist teachers, which furthers my point."
November 27, 2023
To:
Joe Warmington, Journalist, Toronto Sun
Adrienne Batra, Editor-in-chief, Toronto Sun
Dear Joe Warmington and Adrienne Batra,
I am writing to express concerns about your article: “A principal joins those in hot water for anti-Israel postings,” published on November 13 in Toronto Sun.
I will highlight significant issues that make your article inaccurate and one-sided.
First, your article gives the wrong number of the Israelis’ deaths on October 7. You write: “Since the Oct. 7 black Sabbath slaughter that left 1,400 Israelis dead and another 240 held hostage.” Israel has revised its death toll to 1,200, as written in Jerusalem Post's November 13 article.
I, therefore, suggest changing the death toll number to the right one: 1,200.
Second, although antisemitism has indeed been on the rise because of the situation in Gaza, as islamophobia, your article conflates anti-Zionism and antisemitism. The principal's post on X was anti-Zionist but not antisemitic, which is a shame because your article shifted to an article about antisemitism while only citing pro-Israel organizations such as B'nai Brith and Friends of Simon Wiesanthal Centre. You even mention Education Minister Stephen Lecce saying there’s no room in Ontario for activist teachers, which furthers my point.
According to Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), “antisemitism is discrimination, targeting, violence, and dehumanizing stereotypes directed at Jews because they are Jewish.” Anti-zionism, in another part, is “standing against the creation of a nation-state with exclusive rights for Jews above others on the land.”
Anti-zionism is not antisemitism, as the fight for the liberation of Palestine is intertwined with the fight against antisemitism.
I, therefore, suggest adding this sentence: “antisemitism is the discrimination, targeting, violence, and dehumanizing stereotypes directed at Jews because of their religion, while anti-zionism is the opposition against the creation of a nation-state that would place Jews above Palestinians,” after the sentences: “Any intolerance is repugnant, But in recent weeks, it has been the rise of anti-semitism that has been front and centre.” This way, you won’t further mislead your readers.
I hope Toronto Sun will make these changes and cover local events in response to the situation in Palestine-Israel in a fair and accurate manner.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar,