Article needs to mention that the Israelis instigated the violence in Amsterdam soccer incident

"Despite your radio-silence Mr. Roberts, I appreciate the fact that you read my letters. I sincerely hope that my concerns, even if you believe them to be in bad faith, help you reflect on your publications' bottom line."


November 8, 2024

To:

Rob Roberts, Editor-in-Chief, National Post

Jonathan S. Tobin, Editor-in-Chief, Jewish News Syndicate

Dear Mr. Roberts and Mr. S. Tobin

I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) to express my concern regarding the National Post’s recent coverage of a brawl involving Israeli soccer fans in Amsterdam, as described in the article titled “Netanyahu sends rescue planes as Israeli fans violently attacked after Amsterdam soccer match,” published by the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS). Your article is incredibly one-sided and omits essential context from the altercation that went down between the Israeli football fans and the protesters in Amsterdam

The article frames the incident almost entirely as an attack on Israeli fans, using highly charged terms like “a pogrom currently taking place in Europe” and “a lynching mob” to describe the confrontation between Maccabi supporters and pro-Palestinian demonstrators. This language frames the event as a one-sided assault on Israelis, portraying them solely as victims. Yet, reports indicate that Israeli supporters instigated the violence and engaged in several widely reported provocations, such as chanting anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian slurs, including “Let the IDF win, and f*** the Arabs!” Additionally, Amsterdam police reported that a Palestinian flag was burned in Dam Square, and social media statements mentioned heightened vigilance in response to politically charged incidents, including the tearing down of a Palestinian flag from a building. Furthermore, a local Councillor stated that Maccabi fans “attacked pro-Palestinian Amsterdammers and homes displaying Palestinian flags,” noting that Maccabi hooligans have a “long history of violence in European cities,” citing an assault on pro-Palestinian civilians in Athens in March. The JNS article omits these critical facts, resulting in a blinded one-sided portrayal that fails to meet basic standards of journalistic fairness. This selective framing undermines readers’ ability to form an accurate understanding of the incident and disregards the Canadian Association of Journalists’ (CAJ) principles, which require the need for balanced and contextualized reporting.

Lasly, I am concerned to see that the National Post is relying once more on the JNS for coverage of the Palestine beat once more. The National Post endorsing a news outlet known to serve as a mouthpiece for the Israeli government and far-right Israeli viewpoints, that routinely downplays the rights and experiences of Palestinians, objectively reflects a clear Pro-Israel editorial stance. Can I ask why the National Post relies on such a partisan source? Furthermore, as a member of the National NewsMedia Council (NNC), which promotes journalistic integrity in Canadian media, shouldn’t the Post be required to seek balanced, credible sources rather than relying on partisan newswires that compromise fairness?

Despite your radio-silence Mr. Roberts, I appreciate the fact that you read my letters. I sincerely hope that my concerns, even if you believe them to be in bad faith, help you reflect on your publications' bottom line. 

Anthony Issa

Media Analyst

Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East