"The headline and sentence use vague words, such as 'far-right' and 'sensitive,' to get around mentioning that Extremist Ben-Gvir stormed the holy site of Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Occupied Palestinian Territory of East Jerusalem."
To:
Melanie Lidman, Reporter, Associated Press
Josef Federman, News Director, Jerusalem, Associated Press
Nicole MacIntyre, Editor-in-Chief, Toronto Star
Dear Melanie Lidman, Josef Federman, and Nicole MacIntyre,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express concern regarding a recent article titled “Far-right Israeli minister visits sensitive Jerusalem holy site, a threat to Gaza cease-fire talks,” published on July 18 in Toronto Star.
I want to point out a lot of issues in your article.
First, the headline, which reads: “Far-right Israeli minister visits sensitive Jerusalem holy site, a threat to Gaza cease-fire talks,” is problematic as it downplays a controversial move by Israel’s Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir.
A similar sentence can be found in the article: “Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, visited Jerusalem’s most sensitive holy site.”
The headline and sentence use vague words, such as “far-right” and “sensitive,” to get around mentioning that Extremist Ben-Gvir stormed the holy site of Al-Aqsa Mosque in the Occupied Palestinian Territory of East Jerusalem.
Ben-Gvir’s act of going into the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied East Jerusalem is provocative, especially as Jews are not allowed to pray there.
I demand that the headline and sentence be corrected to “Extremist Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir storms Al-Aqsa Mosque in Occupied East Jerusalem, a threat to Gaza cease-fire talks.”
Second, you write: “Tensions over the compound have fueled past rounds of violence” and link an AP article. You also write: “Ben-Gvir has frequently visited the site during times of conflict, drawing condemnation” and link another AP article. However, these sentences and articles do not give enough background context for readers to understand why Ben-Gvir’s move is so controversial.
Such a move by Ben-Gvir is not unique from this year and follows repeated violent raids on Al-Aqsa in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Ben Gvir and other ministers, who have close ties to the extremist Temple Mount Movement, threatened to make provocative invasions of the Al-Aqsa compound during Passover last year. Last Ramadan, on April 4, 2023, Israeli police attacked worshippers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. They brutally beat women, journalists, medics, and people with disabilities with metal chairs, batons, and rifles. Israeli forces attacked the mosque with tear gas, stun grenades, and rubber-coated bullets. In this period alone, they injured at least 153 Palestinians and raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque five times.
I demand that the sentences be corrected to mention Israel’s use of recurring violence at al-Aqsa Mosque.
Third, you write: “Ben-Gvir, an ultranationalist settler leader.”
Ben-Gvir is the leader of Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), a far-right and racist party with origins in Kahanism, a fascist and terroristic movement that calls for the expulsion of Palestinians. Until recently, he had a picture of Jewish terrorist Baruch Goldstein – who murdered 29 Palestinians in the Hebron Ibrahimi Mosque in 1994 – displayed in his home. He has pulled a gun on Palestinian protestors in Sheikh Jarrah, telling police, “If they throw stones, shoot them.” As Israel’s new National Security Minister, Ben Gvir now has control over policing agencies that operate in all historical Palestine.
I demand that you change Ben-Gvir’s description to “Extremist settler leader” and add more background information about him.
I hope the Toronto Star and AP will make these changes and consider them in future reporting.
Sincerely,
Fatima Haidar
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East