No mention of Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism and Israel's case at the ICJ

"I insist that you include a reference to the fact that the ICJ has ruled that South Africa’s contention that Israel is committing genocide is plausible and that Israel has a duty to do more to prevent genocide in Gaza. Please add this important context when speaking about Israel’s attacks on Palestine."


January 29, 2024

To:

Tara Deschamps, Journalist, Canadian Press

David Walmsley, Editor-in-Chief, Globe and Mail

Andrea Baillie, Editor-in-Chief, Canadian Press

Dear Tara Deschamps, David Walmsley, and Andrea Baillie,

I am writing to express my concern about the article: “Holocaust Remembrance Day has sombre tone as war rages on: antisemitism envoy,” published on January 27 in Globe and Mail.

I have two primary concerns with your article, which I am asking for corrections.

First, while your article is focused on the Holocaust and its Remembrance Day, you mention the rise in antisemitism and the effect of the events since October 7 on the Jewish community.

However, you fail to mention that islamophobia hate crimes are also on the rise, as is anti-Palestinian racism, which is the more concerning since you quote Gov. Gen. Mary Simon saying that we cannot be silent when we see hate rising in Canada in all its forms and iterations. It would make sense to add the rise in Islamophobia, hate crimes, and anti-Palestinian racism.

To be more fair and balanced, I, therefore, insist you add that Islamophobia hate crimes and anti-Palestinian racism have also been on the rise after this sentence: “She attributed the mood to a rise in antisemitism that has come as the Israel-Hamas war nears its fourth month, leaving Jews in an “extended state of mourning” and facing grief and fear.”

Second, again, since your article is about the Holocaust and its remembrance, and you bring up the Israel-Hamas conflict, it is essential to mention how Israel has been tried at the ICJ under the convention of genocide to prevent genocide in Gaza.

The act of remembering the Holocaust also serves the purpose of preventing a genocide of this sort from ever happening again. Yet, you fail to mention anything about the fact that Israel is facing an allegation of genocide at the ICJ for its treatment and mass killings of Palestinians in Gaza.

I insist that you include a reference to the fact that the ICJ has ruled that South Africa’s contention that Israel is committing genocide is plausible and that Israel has a duty to do more to prevent genocide in Gaza. Please add this important context when speaking about Israel’s attacks on Palestine.

I hope Globe and Mail will make these changes and report on hate crimes and Palestine-Israel in an accurate, fair, and balanced manner.

Sincerely,

Fatima Haidar,

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