"Netanyahu's speech was filled with dehumanizing language, portraying Palestinians as barbarians and the CBC’s broadcast downplayed the explicit racism in his speech to Congress by framing Israel’s actions as part of a larger 'clash of civilizations.' This is also a mischaracterization, as Netanyahu’s exact words were 'This is not a clash of civilizations. It’s a clash between barbarism and civilization.' This arguably worse than what the CBC softened in its broadcast as not only was the term not used, but Netanyahu made a clear statement to dehumanize Palestinians and justify his campaign of carpet-bombing Gaza. This kind of framing covers up his racism and presents a one-sided narrative that fails to acknowledge the complexities and the suffering of the Palestinian people."
July 25, 2024
Dear Ms. Waugh, Mr. Fenlon, Mr. Nagler, and the CBC Newsroom,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express my concern regarding your recent video broadcast titled “Netanyahu addresses U.S. Congress as Capitol Police pepper spray protesters outside,” published on July 24, 2024, by the CBC.
My primary issues with the broadcast include a lack of skepticism regarding Netanyahu's speech and a significant inaccuracy in the reporting. Specifically, the statement "Nine months after an attack by Hamas on Israel killed 1,400 people" is incorrect. It has been more than nine months, and Hamas did not kill 1,400 people. According to Human Rights Watch, between 815 and 1,195 people killed on October 7 were civilians.
Additionally, Netanyahu's speech was filled with dehumanizing language, portraying Palestinians as barbarians and the CBC’s broadcast downplayed the explicit racism in his speech to Congress by framing Israel’s actions as part of a larger “clash of civilizations.”
This is also a mischaracterization, as Netanyahu’s exact words were “This is not a clash of civilizations. It’s a clash between barbarism and civilization.” This arguably worse than what the CBC softened in its broadcast as not only was the term not used, but Netanyahu made a clear statement to dehumanize Palestinians and justify his campaign of carpet-bombing Gaza. This kind of framing covers up his racism and presents a one-sided narrative that fails to acknowledge the complexities and the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Furthermore, I’m shocked that the CBC even decided to run this broadcast through the lens of the "Clash of Civilizations."
The “Clash of Civilizations” theory by Samuel P. Huntington is a deeply problematic western political framework that reduces complex political, economic, and social actions to simplistic cultural binaries, turning cultures into these abstract monoliths and ignoring the nuances and cultural diversities within civilizations. By promoting the idea that cultural differences are unbridgeable and that conflict between civilizations is inevitable, this theory exacerbates tensions, fuels xenophobia and racism, and hinder efforts towards dialogue, understanding, and cooperation.
For the CBC to broadcast such a narrative without critical examination is not only gravely irresponsible, but also extremely shameful and embarrassing for a public broadcaster to perpetuate this kind of hate rhetoric which normalizes orientalist stereotypes and justifies violence.
By not challenging the assertions made by Netanyahu and adopting the framework of clashing civilizations, your broadcast implicitly supports the narrative that Palestinians are “barbarians.”
On another level, to claim that Netanyahu was using the “clash of civilization” framework, when he actually rejects it for a much more racist framing of barbarians vs. civilization, is simply false and requires an on-air clarification for your viewers.
Please consider these points and I request an on-air correction of the problematic viewpoints the CBC parroted from the speech of a war criminal.
I await your response,
Anthony Issa
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East