Just as individuals from other countries are identified by their country of origin, Palestinians should also be described as being from Palestine, their homeland. Especially given that Canada now recognizes Palestine, our media outlets ought to do the same, and there really isn’t a compelling reason to do otherwise.
To the Prince Albert Daily Herald,
I am writing on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East regarding the article titled: “Gateway mall welcomes Middle Eastern cuisine at Eastern Plate.”
We appreciate your coverage of the opening of a new restaurant on Thursday, serving up delicious Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Cuisine.
We also appreciate that the article gives space for one of the restaurant’s owners, Sabreen Algherbawi, to share her perspective about “the first Arabic restaurant in PA.” This is something we consistently push mainstream outlets to do, as Palestinian perspectives are often omitted or relegated to the very end of articles. In this regard, the article is excellent.
However, we would like to offer some constructive feedback regarding the following sentence: “The friendly couple originate from Palestinian territory, and Sabreen previously catered meals for special events.”
The phrase “Palestinian territory” raises concerns about a double standard in how Palestinian national identity is represented. For instance, it would be unusual for a journalist to describe an American couple as originating from “U.S. territory” rather than simply saying they are “from the United States.” Why, then, should Palestinians be described differently?
Just as individuals from other countries are identified by their country of origin, Palestinians should also be described as being from Palestine, their homeland. Especially given that Canada now recognizes Palestine, our media outlets ought to do the same, and there really isn’t a compelling reason to do otherwise.
That in mind, we encourage you to apply the same standards when describing Palestinian origins as you would for any other nationality. And thank you again for highlighting the story of Sabreen and Abdullah Algherbawi.
Media Analyst. Canadians for Justice in the Middle East