"Your coverage also neglects to contextualize Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza, which has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, as part of a broader pattern of systematic violence and collective punishment. The CAJ’s guidelines emphasize the importance of avoiding passive language that obscures responsibility, yet the article repeatedly does so."
May 29, 2025
Dear Joseph Federman and Donovan Vincent,
I am writing to express serious concerns about the ethical and factual shortcomings in your recent article, "Live updates: Israel OKs more settlements in the West Bank as Gaza strikes kill at least 13" (May 29, 2025). The framing and language used fail to meet basic journalistic standards of accuracy, context, and fairness, as outlined in the Canadian Association of Journalists’ Ethics Guidelines.
The headline’s use of the term "settlements" without qualification obscures the reality that these are not benign housing projects but illegal colonies constructed on militarily occupied Palestinian land. International law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention and the International Court of Justice’s 2024 advisory opinion, unequivocally prohibits such settlements, yet this critical legal context is absent.
Similarly, the passive phrasing "Gaza strikes kill at least 13" erases both the perpetrator—Israeli forces—and the victims’ identity as Palestinians, contributing to their dehumanization. Journalism must not sanitize violence by omitting accountability.
The article further misrepresents history by stating that "Israel captured the West Bank, along with Gaza and east Jerusalem." This language is misleading. As legal scholars and human rights organizations have repeatedly affirmed, these territories are not merely "captured" but remain under prolonged military occupation—a distinction with profound legal and moral implications. The term "occupied" is not a matter of preference but a factual descriptor under international law. Failing to use this terminology whitewashes Israel’s decades-long regime of dispossession and apartheid.
Additionally, the article’s claim that "most of the international community views settlements as illegal" understates the reality. This is not a matter of opinion but settled law: the ICJ, UN resolutions, and the Geneva Conventions all explicitly deem settlements illegal. Omitting this consensus misleads readers by framing a legal fact as a contested viewpoint.
Your coverage also neglects to contextualize Israel’s ongoing bombardment of Gaza, which has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, as part of a broader pattern of systematic violence and collective punishment. The CAJ’s guidelines emphasize the importance of avoiding passive language that obscures responsibility, yet the article repeatedly does so.
I urge you to correct these errors and ensure future reporting adheres to ethical journalism standards—particularly when covering violations of international law and human rights. The public relies on your outlet to provide accurate, contextualized information, not euphemisms that distort reality.
Sincerely,
Nikki Mutch
Volunteer, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East