Unfair article refers to pro-Palestine protests as pro-Hamas

"It is a deliberate way to delegitimize these protests and the Palestinian cause that rallies Jewish people as well. It is a misinterpretation of these protests that are essentially calling for a ceasefire and the liberation of Palestine and Palestinians."


December 11, 2023

To:

Joel Kotkin, Columnist, National Post

Rob Roberts, Editor-in-Chief, National Post

Carson Jerema, Managing Editor, comment, National Post

Dear Joel Kotkin, Rob Roberts, and Carson Jerema,

I am writing to express concern about the opinion piece: “As antisemitism surges on the left, Jews are pushed to the right,” published on December 11 in the National Post.

I want to bring your attention to one specific issue that needs to be corrected since opinion pieces must still be based on facts, and this one isn’t.

Kotkin writes: “Recent pro-Hamas demonstrations in Toronto – now home to roughly half the community – have involved intimidating Jews in their homes, schools and businesses.”

It is unfair and incorrect to refer to pro-Palestine protests as pro-Hamas protests.

First, there is no evidence provided to back that claim.

Second, it is a deliberate way to delegitimize these protests and the Palestinian cause that rallies Jewish people as well. It is a misinterpretation of these protests that are essentially calling for a ceasefire and the liberation of Palestine and Palestinians.

Third, a decision rendered by the National Newsmedia Council, 2020-03: Morrison vs Toronto Sun, upheld that a January 5, 2020, Toronto Sun opinion article inaccurately described a protest attended by Ontario NDP MPPs. NNC found that these MPPS “attended the protest to express an ‘anti-war’ point of view and position against ‘aggression’ and that [the opinion article] conflated anti-war and pro-terrorist sentiment.” NNC argued that opinions must be based on accurate facts and that you cannot be guilty by association or proximity. This article’s statement that pro-Palestine rallies are “pro-Hamas” closely resembles the issue in the Toronto Sun op-ed.

In line with my arguments, specifically the 2020-03: Morrison vs Toronto Sun decision by the NNC, and to respect your journalistic obligations of accuracy, I ask you to change the words pro-Hamas to pro-Palestine protests.

I hope the National Post will make this change and cover pro-Palestine protests accurately.

Sincerely,

Fatima Haidar,

Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East