"The National Post recently published a highly inflammatory article calling for Canada to bar Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian human rights, from entering the country. The article frames Albanese's documented advocacy for Palestinian rights as antisemitic and only includes one-sided quotes from pro-Israel figures to revoke her diplomatic immunity and UN mandate."
Poor Coverage – Media outlet to be critiqued
A CJPME Media Researcher has launched a media alert for the following article. Please submit a quick response to the media, even if it’s just a sentence or two:
Title of Piece: Ari David Blaff: Calls mount for Canada to bar UN special rapporteur Francesca Albanese over antisemitic remarks
Media Outlet: National Post
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Comments of the CJPME Media Researcher:
(Note: Please do not copy and paste the material below as the content to your message to the media - put all comments in your own words):
The National Post recently published a highly inflammatory article calling for Canada to bar Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on Palestinian human rights, from entering the country. The article frames Albanese's documented advocacy for Palestinian rights as antisemitic and only includes one-sided quotes from pro-Israel figures to revoke her diplomatic immunity and UN mandate. This heavily one-sided, unfairly editorialized report unjustly vilifies Albanese and lacks any nuance or quotes from Albanese or pro-Palestine voices.
- This article wrongly brands Albanese as a supporter of antisemitic views, selectively quoting pro-Israel voices such as Deborah Lyons, Anthony Housefather, CIJA and Hillel Neuer (UN Watch) without counterbalancing voices.
- Mr. Blaff includes references to the 1988 Hamas Charter—irrelevant to Albanese’s role. Furthermore, the sentence "The Hamas charter explicitly calls for the destruction of Israel and the genocide of Jews," misrepresents the current stance of Hamas, which, since 2004, has repeatedly stated its willingness to accept a peace agreement based on an Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 borders.
- Blaff includes a reference to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. This definition is problematic as it conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism, which defames and pressures Palestinians and their allies to exclude their voices. The IHRA definition itself reinforces anti-Palestinian racism as defined by the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association.
- MAP volunteers are encouraged to submit letters to the editor challenging this representation. The Post allows a 200-word limit for letters to be published. Focusing on a single point will enhance the letter’s effectiveness. The letter should be concise and direct to increase the likelihood of publication. The National Post letters to the editor email are available below.
Please click here to launch an email in which you can draft a response to this media coverage.
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Thank you very much. Every response makes a difference.
The CJPME Media Centre Team
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