"I think it's fair to describe this sort of rhetoric as "genocidal." Levi is certainly a 'supporter of ethnic cleansing.' This sort of thing is merely the tip of the iceberg. This tweet is just a Tuesday for Levi. Readers deserve some context about who this Mayor is, because it helps explain how someone could fly an Israeli flag in a Montreal town as Palestinians are being annihilated."
August 15, 2025Dear Basem Boshra,
CJPME is concerned about CBC's recent article, "Hampstead, Que., resident challenges Israeli flag in front of town hall," by Mélissa François and Isaac Olson.
While I was glad to see a piece about the initiative of an individual in a town known for tense politics regarding Israel and Palestine, I was perturbed by the way the journalists describe Jeremy Levi, the mayor of the town.
The words I've heard associated with Mr. Levi are things like "fascist" or "genocide cheerleader," including from residents of his town. I'm not suggesting that CBC should use those terms, but it's surprising to see his brand of advocacy summed up as "outspoken supporter of Israel." I think such a reductive description of his politics actually misleads your readers about his politics as they try to understand the tensions in Hamstead.
Here's a very recent example of a typical Jeremy Levi post on X:
"If the rumours are true, then good — it’s about time. Israel should move forward with full occupation and annexation of Gaza. It’s been nearly two years, and if the Palestinians truly wanted peace, they would’ve handed over the hostages long ago. But they haven’t — because they choose war. Israel has every right to act decisively. No more half-measures. No more waiting. The world needs to understand: no more arguing, no more explanations. Full throttle. No apologies."
"If the rumours are true, then good — it’s about time. Israel should move forward with full occupation and annexation of Gaza. It’s been nearly two years, and if the Palestinians truly wanted peace, they would’ve handed over the hostages long ago. But they haven’t — because they choose war. Israel has every right to act decisively. No more half-measures. No more waiting. The world needs to understand: no more arguing, no more explanations. Full throttle. No apologies."
I think it's fair to describe this sort of rhetoric as "genocidal." Levi is certainly a 'supporter of ethnic cleansing.' This sort of thing is merely the tip of the iceberg. This tweet is just a Tuesday for Levi. Readers deserve some context about who this Mayor is, because it helps explain how someone could fly an Israeli flag in a Montreal town as Palestinians are being annihilated.
If the JSP says journalists ought to "clearly explain the facts to [CBC's] audience," it seems to me that the description given here is not 'clear' and it's so reductive that it's almost misleading. I believe it would be appropriate to add some context about Jeremy Levi's controversial public statements or include comment from a relevant group concerned by his leadership.
Best,
Jason
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