It is disappointing, however, that you chose to run a piece consisting almost entirely of voices that dismiss the film outright, especially given the total lack of substance behind them. The article’s observation that “[w]hile many of the people CBC spoke with were furious about the film, no one had seen it” says it all as to how seriously these people should be taken and yet the CBC gives them virtually the entire focus.
Dear CBC editorial team
I’m writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East regarding Friday’s piece titled, “These documentarians got a standing ovation in Venice, but their fellow Israelis are furious.” While we support the fact of the CBC’s reporting on NAZA, your approach to this piece is unfortunate and should be modified in future.
The CBC is right to cover this documentary, which according to reports from those who have seen it further confirms the testimonials provided over the past three years by the Palestinians who have been the victims of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. By all accounts, the production contains information that Canadians need to know and we encourage you to continue to bring attention to its contents.
It is disappointing, however, that you chose to run a piece consisting almost entirely of voices that dismiss the film outright, especially given the total lack of substance behind them. The article’s observation that “[w]hile many of the people CBC spoke with were furious about the film, no one had seen it” says it all as to how seriously these people should be taken and yet the CBC gives them virtually the entire focus.
Given what countless media outlets (including yours) have exhaustively reported for three years regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza, how can the CBC justify publishing a quote claiming, “All the soldiers, they didn't do anything” with no pushback or fact-checking? Numerous international and Israeli non-governmental organizations have described Israel’s actions in Gaza as a genocide. How can the CBC repeat a blanket denial that Israel’s military did “anything” when the basic fact of its destruction of Gaza is well beyond reasonable dispute?
It is also unfortunate that you mention only briefly the official backlash against the film. Brief quotes from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (that outrageously dismisses a film made up of testimony from Israeli soldiers as mere “antisemitic incitement” – again with no pushback) are insufficient and give no sense of the scale of the reaction at the highest political echelons. A single caption mentions “calls to strip its filmmakers of their citizenships.” Why did you fail to mention that these calls have come not just from random, anonymous passersby but from Israel’s Culture Minister and the very same Prime Minister you quoted only in passing? Netanyahu has threatened denationalization of not just the filmmakers themselves, but also “anyone who defames Israel's soldiers.” In addition to reporting on this frontal assault on free speech, the CBC should also question whether in light of such draconian threats it remains appropriate to describe Israel as a democracy.
Finally, and most important, it is completely unacceptable to report on Israel’s destruction of Gaza without a single word from the people who have been the victims of its brutal onslaught: the Palestinians in Gaza themselves. When reporting on a documentary’s credibility, it is essential to share the views of those best placed to corroborate its narrative. No one knows better than Palestinians what Israel has done to them for the past three years, and it irresponsible to simply ignore the most credible source – and the most relevant perspective – available to you.
We again emphasize that the CBC’s reporting on NAZA is critical and should continue, but we ask that you take into account the concerns set forth above in future reporting on this important subject.
Sincerely,
Adam Allouba
Media Advocate
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East
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