This language misleads readers into thinking that Israel has a strong claim to or ownership of Palestine. Nevertheless, such usage runs directly counter to 1) the way international law views the military seizure of territory, 2) the position of the international community regarding Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories, and 3) the ordinary meaning of the term in plain English.
To the Globe and Mail,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East to offer a couple of recommendations for Steven Chase's article: “Canada broadens sanctions against ‘facilitators’ of West Bank settler violence” that was published yesterday.
Near the end of the article, the following statement appears:
“Settlers is a collective term for Jewish Israelis who live in the territories − the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights − that Israel captured in the 1967 Six-Day War.”
This language is highly misleading and falls short of the ethical standards expected in responsible journalism.
Definitionally, legally, and historically, Israel did not “capture” the Palestinian territories. This language misleads readers into thinking that Israel has a strong claim to or ownership of Palestine. Nevertheless, such usage runs directly counter to 1) the way international law views the military seizure of territory, 2) the position of the international community regarding Israel’s presence in the occupied Palestinian territories, and 3) the ordinary meaning of the term in plain English.
In 2001, the signatories of the Fourth Geneva Convention reconfirmed the applicability of the Fourth Geneva Convention to the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, thus confirming that Israel is indeed considered an occupying power. In fact, Canada does not recognize Israel’s presence in the Palestinian territories as a “capture” but an “occupation.” Israeli settlements in the occupied territories are in stark violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and referring to them as being “captured” by Israel misrepresents the territories' internationally recognized status as occupied Palestinian territory.
Notwithstanding that The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has made it clear that Israel has “occupied”, not “captured” Palestinian territories in its Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024:
“The sustained abuse by Israel of its position as an occupying Power, through annexation and an assertion of permanent control over the Occupied Palestinian Territory and continued frustration of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, violates fundamental principles of international law and renders Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory unlawful …. This illegality relates to the entirety of the Palestinian territory “occupied” by Israel in 1967.”
I urge your newsroom to correct this mischaracterization in both this article and future coverage by using language consistent with international law and journalistic ethics, and by clearly stating that Israel "occupied" Palestinian territory in the 1967 Six-Day War - not "captured" it.
I trust that these edits will be made promptly in the interest of accuracy, fairness, and responsible journalism.
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East