We therefore request that Associated Press and CTV News amend the article in the interest of accuracy and replace the phrase “seized large swaths of that country” with language reflecting the reported facts on the ground - that Israel currently occupies approximately 570 square kilometres (220 square miles) of Lebanese territory.
To the CTV News and Associated Press,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (www.cjpme.org) regarding the Associated Press article published in CTV News titled: “Iran says the deal to end the war with the U.S. requires Israel to withdraw from Lebanon.”
The article specifies that “Israel joined the US in launching strikes on Iran on February 28, and has since fought the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon and seized large swaths of that country.
This is inaccurate reporting. Israel has not seized “large swaths” of Lebanon. According to reports, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Monday that Israeli forces are going to remain Lebanon, where Israel currently occupies approximately 570 square kilometres (220 square miles) of Lebanese territory. Describing this as “large swaths” of Lebanon is inaccurate and gives readers a misleading impression of the extent of Israel’s occupation of Lebanese territory.
We therefore request that Associated Press and CTV News amend the article in the interest of accuracy and replace the phrase “seized large swaths of that country” with language reflecting the reported facts on the ground - that Israel currently occupies approximately 570 square kilometres (220 square miles) of Lebanese territory.
Lastly, I write in good faith to keep the media accountable - encouraging both CTV News and the Associated Press to ensure that coverage of West Asia is accurate, precise, and consistent with the Canadian Association of Journalists’ guidelines.
Media Analyst
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East