"Your article is heavily one-sided, giving undue prominence to supporters of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) while characterizing the JNF Negev fundraiser dinner as merely 'a Jewish community event.' I am afraid your use of soft language, whether intentional or not, fails to acknowledge that the JNF is deeply tied to Israel’s history of colonization of Palestinian territory."
August 13, 2024
To:
Trevor Wilhelm, Journalist, Windsor Star
Craig Pearson, Managing Editor, Windsor Star
Dear Mr. Wilhelm and Mr. Pearson,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to express concerns about the article titled “Pro-Palestine protesters stage noisy 'disruption' outside Windsor Negev Dinner” published on August 9, 2024.
Your article is heavily one-sided, giving undue prominence to supporters of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) while characterizing the JNF Negev fundraiser dinner as merely “a Jewish community event.” I am afraid your use of soft language, whether intentional or not, fails to acknowledge that the JNF is deeply tied to Israel’s history of colonization of Palestinian territory.
The JNF was established in 1901 to acquire land for the purpose of settling Jews while excluding all others. In 1972, JNF Canada funded the creation of Canada Park, a recreational park located in the occupied West Bank on top of the ruins of the depopulated Palestinian villages of Yalu, Imwas and Beit Nuba, which were expelled and destroyed in 1967. In 2019, the CBC reported that JNF Canada had repeatedly violated CRA guidelines by “fund[ing] infrastructure projects on Israeli army, air and naval bases,” as well as projects in Israeli settlements in the OPT, including contributing to the “construction of at least one hilltop settler outpost that was declared illegal by the State of Israel itself.” By ignoring this context, your article effectively shields readers from understanding that JNF Canada supports projects linked to the Israeli military and settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT).
Furthermore, you write: “Pro-Palestine advocates with a goal of “disruption” blocked traffic and hurled insults during ….”. The protesters were not causing a disruption for its own sake. Their actions were a form of anti-Zionism resistance against what they see as the JNF's role in perpetuating Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
I, therefore, recommend this suggestion: “Pro-Palestine advocates with a goal of “disruption” blocked traffic and hurled insults during a loud and sometimes tense and hostile protest protested Thursday outside a Jewish community event a Windsor event for an organization linked to Israeli settlements featuring former Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper.”
I strongly urge you to revise your article to reflect the true nature of the JNF’s activities in occupying Palestinian land for Jewish settlement. Accurate and fair reporting is not just important—it is your responsibility.
Sincerely,
Lynn Naji
Junior Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East