As our national news station, CBC has an important responsibility to ensure that Canadians understand Israel’s role as an occupying power and its impact on Palestinian lives and the economy in the West Bank. By all means, continue to tell the stories that celebrate small glimmers of hope for Palestinians. However, these hopeful stories must include the necessary context of Israel’s genocide, ethnic cleansing and forced displacement that is the daily reality for Palestinians - so as not to obscure the ongoing occupation.
Dear Mr. Parry and Mr. Boshra,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) regarding the CBC News Report that was aired on December 7, 2025. The segment that I am referring to Bethlehem Christmas tree lit up for first time since start of Gaza war.
At first glance, the headline suggests that this is a good news story. Who doesn’t like to hear that the Christmas tree in Manger Square has been lit up for the first time since 2022? While such a hopeful story is worthy of telling and celebrating, the news report was notable in what it failed to mention.
In November 2024, I returned to the West Bank at the request of Palestinians who were desperate for visitors to come and bear witness to the increased settler violence, to the continued displacement from their land, to the economic hardship created by the loss of employment and the expansion of checkpoints and military gates restricting their freedom of movement. What I witnessed was heartbreaking. Historical terraces destroyed for Israeli only roads. Yellow metal gates locking Palestinians into their villages and separating them from the larger centres like Nablus and Bethlehem. More Bedouins dispossessed from their land and their livelihood due to Israel declaring their land a military zone. New settlements and outposts scattered everywhere – around Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Nablus, South Hebron Hills. What should have been a 20 minute bus trip from Bethlehem to East Jerusalem took me two hours because Checkpoint 300 was unexpectedly closed.
Yes, the COVID pandemic, the October 7 attacks and the military operations in Gaza have reduced the foreign tourists visiting the West Bank and specifically Bethlehem. However, it is the ongoing occupation, the presence of new outposts and settlements and military operations in the West Bank that is contributing to the decline of foreign visitors and the economic collapse in the West Bank.
As our national news station, CBC has an important responsibility to ensure that Canadians understand Israel’s role as an occupying power and its impact on Palestinian lives and the economy in the West Bank. By all means, continue to tell the stories that celebrate small glimmers of hope for Palestinians. However, these hopeful stories must include the necessary context of Israel’s genocide, ethnic cleansing and forced displacement that is the daily reality for Palestinians - so as not to obscure the ongoing occupation.
Sincerely,
Debbie Hubbard
Kelowna, British Columbia