"While violence in the West Bank has escalated since October 7th, it is not a new, unprecedented, reality but rather a longstanding issue for Palestinians."
April 15, 2024
To:
Andrea Baillie, Editor-in-Chief, The Canadian Press
Tim Cook, Managing Editor, The Canadian Press
Kayla Goodfield, Assistant Managing Editor, The Canadian Press
Dear Andrea Baillie, Tim Cook, and Kayla Goodfield,
I am writing to express my concern about the article: “Canada advises against all travel to Israel, West Bank due to heightened risk,” published on April 12 in The Canadian Press.
What is surprising about this article is the terminology used to describe the violence happening in the West Bank, particularly the phrase "dozens of angry Israeli settlers stormed into a village in the Israeli-occupied West Bank." This wording appears to justify the actions of settlers who are perpetrating crimes against Palestinians. It also lacks necessary context, as the “violence” to which you refer has been ongoing since 1967. Why are the settlers being described as "angry"? Is there an underlying assumption that is not being mentioned? While violence in the West Bank has escalated since October 7th, it is not a new, unprecedented, reality but rather a longstanding issue for Palestinians.
Moreover, using the passive voice to say “while tensions and violence are high in the West Bank” downplays the brutality and violence of the Israeli settlers against Palestinians. Additional context is mandatory in such an article to report on these events fairly.
What could be important to mention, for instance, is that about 490,000 settlers live among approximately three million Palestinians in the West Bank, in settlements that are considered illegal under international law. The recent OCHA report underscores the grim reality for Palestinians affected by settler violence since 2022. Nearly 2,000 individuals have been displaced, with a significant surge of 43% since October 7, 2023. Over a third of incidents since October 7 involved firearms, often with Israeli forces supporting the attackers. In September, before the October 7 attacks, OCHA reported 1,105 individuals from 28 communities displaced due to violence and restricted access to grazing land, leading to the complete displacement of four communities and significant exodus from others.
Good Journalism is based on fairness and balance, and this article fails to uphold this most basic journalistic principle.
I, therefore, urge you to consider substituting the term "Angry Israeli Settlers" with language that portrays their actions, violence, and attacks, offering proper context to these longstanding crimes.
I strongly recommend that The Canadian Press incorporates my recommendations and exercise less bias when reporting on the violence taking place in the West Bank by the Israeli settlers against the Palestinians.
Sincerely,
Mary Ann Matta,
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East