"Thank you once again for prioritizing Palestinian perspectives. Your commitment to fair and accurate reporting is vital, and I urge you to continue this critical work. I hope you will consider my critique in future reporting on Israel and Palestine."
March 14, 2024
To:
Michael Owen, Reporter, Bradford Today
Michael Friscolanti, Editor-In-Chief, Bradford Today
Dear Michael Owen,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to thank you for your recent article titled: “Bradford library accused of 'censorship' after axing film screening” published on March 13 by Bradford Today.
I found your article particularly valuable as it delved into the perspectives of Palestinians and shed light on their experiences. Your discussion with Simcoe County 4 Palestine brought attention to crucial issues such as the suppression of Palestinian voices, the prevalence of anti-Palestinian racism equating Palestinian narratives with violence, and the significance of upholding freedom of expression and embracing cultural diversity. I also valued your acknowledgment of the film's commitment to portraying the unfiltered reality and that it refrained from depicting violence, despite the reluctance of some individuals to confront uncomfortable truths.
While this segment was generally balanced and informative, there is an important point to consider in future reporting. As you describe what the movie is about in your article, you mention:
“The film is a fictional drama about a Palestinian man named Mustafa, whose wife and children live in two Palestinian villages in the West Bank which are 200 metres apart and separated by the Israeli boarder wall.”
The “Israeli border wall” in the West Bank, to which you refer, deviates from the Green Line to encompass several settlements, thereby failing to reflect Israel's initial borders. The Green Line signifies the boundary between pre-1967 Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, acknowledged internationally. This effectively resulted in Israel annexing Palestinian territories, straying from its originally agreed-upon borders from 1948. Hence, terms like "Apartheid Wall" or "Annexation Wall" offer a more accurate depiction of the situation in the West Bank and the separation barrier.
Thank you once again for prioritizing Palestinian perspectives. Your commitment to fair and accurate reporting is vital, and I urge you to continue this critical work. I hope you will consider my critique in future reporting on Israel and Palestine.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Matta,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East