"A recent National Post op-ed by Jesse Kline accuses CBC of anti-Israel bias, distorting its reporting on Gaza, casualty figures, and journalist integrity. This attack is part of a larger campaign by pro-Israel lobby groups such as HRC and CIJA to pressure CBC into adopting a complete one-sided pro-Israel editorial narrative."
Poor Coverage – Media outlet to be critiqued
A CJPME Media Researcher has launched a media alert for the following article. Please submit a quick response to the media, even if it’s just a sentence or two:
Title of Piece: Jesse Kline: We spent $1.4B on the CBC and all we got was lousy anti-Israel bias
Media Outlet: The National Post
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Comments of the CJPME Media Researcher:
(Note: Please do not copy and paste the material below as the content to your message to the media - put all comments in your own words):
A recent National Post op-ed by Jesse Kline accuses CBC of anti-Israel bias, distorting its reporting on Gaza, casualty figures, and journalist integrity. This attack is part of a larger campaign by pro-Israel lobby groups such as HRC and CIJA to pressure CBC into adopting a complete one-sided pro-Israel editorial narrative.
- Kline claims that the CBC has “blindly repeated Hamas’s propaganda” and that it legitimizes casualty figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry without questioning their accuracy. However, his only source for this claim is his own op-ed from last year and not actual evidence. An op-ed must be based on verifiable facts, not just repetition of personal claims. This is a deliberate attempt to delegitimize CBC’s factual reporting by framing it as biased, despite its reliance on the same sources as major international organizations.
- Kline claims that CBC “blindly repeats Hamas’s propaganda” by citing casualty figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry, ignoring that these same figures are widely reported by the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and even U.S. officials, who have acknowledged their general reliability. Israel itself has not substantiated claims that the numbers are being “manipulated.” The CBC follows standard journalistic practice by citing local health authorities in a war zone while providing necessary context about verification challenges. By dismissing these figures outright, Kline is attempting to discredit all reporting that highlights the genocide committed by Israel.
- Kline and pro-Israel lobby groups like CIJA and HonestReporting Canada misrepresent the former CBC Ombudsman in his September 2024 report to claim that CBC’s coverage is unbalanced. The actual Ombudsman statement does not accuse CBC of systemic bias but instead suggests that CBC could do more to demonstrate its balanced reporting to the public. The Ombudsman explicitly acknowledges CBC’s efforts to provide different viewpoints, citing multiple interviews and reports that showcase a diversity of perspectives. CIJA in its document sent to the CTRC selectively quote's a single line about CBC needing to “demonstrate” balance while ignoring the Ombudsman’s broader assessment, which contradicts their claim of anti-Israel bias.
- Kline falsely claims that Israel “ended its occupation” of Gaza in 2005. This is in direct contradiction to rulings and statements from: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) The United Nations (UN) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Canada’s own official policy, which explicitly recognizes Gaza as part of the occupied Palestinian territories. Under international law, occupation is determined by “effective control,” not just troop presence. Israel controls: Gaza’s airspace and territorial waters All land crossings (except the Rafah border with Egypt) Electricity, water, fuel, and essential supplies The population registry and ID system Even after 2005, Israel has blockaded Gaza, imposed severe movement restrictions, and launched repeated military offensives. To claim that Gaza is not occupied is a deliberate distortion of international law.
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