It is unfair and misleading to refer to a matter of settled international law (that Israel is illegally occupying Palestinian land) as simply the “view” of certain bodies and countries. This is even more problematic given how Israel’s position is stated so strongly. Reuters includes the claim that “Jews have lived for thousands of years” in Israel, but omits any mention of Palestinian indignity.
To the Reuters Newsroom,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) regarding the article titled: “UN rights office warns of worsening settler violence in West Bank” published on July 29, 2026.
The article states:
“Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who advocates for the full annexation of the West Bank, called the move ‘historic.’ U.N. bodies, Palestinians and most countries view the settlements as illegal under international conventions — a stance disputed by Israel — and a major obstacle to peace. Israel cites biblical and historical ties to the land, which it argues is disputed territory, where Jews have lived for thousands of years.”
It is unfair and misleading to refer to a matter of settled international law (that Israel is illegally occupying Palestinian land) as simply the “view” of certain bodies and countries. This is even more problematic given how Israel’s position is stated so strongly. Reuters includes the claim that “Jews have lived for thousands of years” in Israel, but omits any mention of Palestinian indignity.
The paragraph amounts to inaccuracy and false balance. It deserves clarification.
Further, the article should have included some of the legal context outlined below instead of giving more weight to the justifications of Israeli officials.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in its 2024 advisory opinion reaffirmed that (i) Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory is unlawful, and (ii) Israel is under an obligation to end its unlawful occupation “as rapidly as possible.” This legal position has also been affirmed by the United Nations Security Council in 2016, the International Court of Justice in 2004, the International Committee of the Red Cross in 2019, and human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
I hope you will take these concerns careful consideration.
Sincerely,
Jason Toney
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East.