"The sentence, 'Hamas, in its founding charter in 1988, calls for the destruction of Israel and is nakedly antisemitic,' should be removed. It misrepresents the current stance of Hamas, which, since 2004, has repeatedly stated its willingness to accept a peace agreement based on an Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders. The original 1988 charter is frequently and misleadingly cited to suggest that Hamas is committed to Israel’s destruction, a context that you fail to provide."
August 21, 2024
To:
Sharon Kirkey, Senior Writer, National Post
Rob Roberts, Editor-in-Chief, National Post
Dear Ms. Kirkey and Mr. Roberts,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to express my concern regarding Ms. Kirkey’s article, titled “Ottawa Pride loses key allies over anti-Israel stance,” published on August 19, 2024, in the National Post. The article, which purports to be news, is a blatantly one-sided piece that aims to defame the pro-Palestine movement, now with an added layer of pinkwashing.
I take issue with the fact that the article is being labeled as news, despite Ms. Kirkey’s opening line questioning the legitimacy of pro-Palestine boycotts without any attribution. This is direct editorializing on behalf of Ms. Kirkey and reflects poorly on the National Post. Your bias is further evident in your use of the term "anti-Israel protesters," which carries a negative connotation. The term "pro-Palestine," now widely accepted in media discourse, is a more neutral choice to use.
Additionally, the article fails to directly reference Capital Pride’s statement, which was a balanced and nuanced response to the boycotts, emphasizing safety for all attendees. Instead, you frame the statement in bad faith, choosing to use pro-Israel voices to unfairly label Capital Pride and its supporters as antisemites. This approach not only reflects a double standard but also distorts the reality of the situation.
Furthermore, I am also perplexed by the inclusion of a reference to the Hamas charter at the end of the article. The charter, from 1988, has no relevance to the subject of the article. Its inclusion seems either accidental or a last-minute editorial decision, which is reflected in the sentence being in a different font and size. This discrepancy detracts from the professionalism of your publication.
The sentence, "Hamas, in its founding charter in 1988, calls for the destruction of Israel and is nakedly antisemitic," should be removed. It misrepresents the current stance of Hamas, which, since 2004, has repeatedly stated its willingness to accept a peace agreement based on an Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders. The original 1988 charter is frequently and misleadingly cited to suggest that Hamas is committed to Israel’s destruction, a context that you fail to provide.
I urge you to address these concerns and ensure that your coverage is corrected to reflect a fairer and more accurate portrayal of the issues. I look forward to your response.
Anthony Issa
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East