The Media Accountability Project  

"I also urge you to provide additional context regarding Israel’s military occupation and apartheid regime. More context will enable your reader to better understand that Indonesia’s refusal to host Israel’s Under 20 soccer team is based on support for Palestinian self-determination and anti-colonialism." Continue reading

“Speaking up” is not a “feel good” thing.  If she had done it right, Lederman would indeed have been vilified by her community.  If she had truly spoken out against racism and injustice in Israel, she would indeed have had her words co-opted by malefactors.  This is the price of standing up for your principles." Continue reading

"Noa Tishby is an Israeli government official. Israel’s Foreign Minister appointed Noa Tishby as the “Special Envoy for Combating Antisemitism and Delegitimization.” Again, this is an official role in the Israeli government. Tishby is not acting as an activist in her forthcoming talk in Winnipeg, but rather acting in her role as an Israeli Official." Continue reading

"I was especially pleased to hear that the guest Michael Koplow of the Israel Policy Forum addressed how Palestinian citizens are impacted by policies pursued by the current right-wing Israeli government. I am appreciative that attention was brought towards the racist and inflammatory comments made by Minister Bezalel Smotrich about Palestinians but also the forced expulsions, and settlement activity ongoing in the occupied West Bank." Continue reading

"Even though Canada is a member of the Rome Statute, it has consistently opposed investigations into Israeli war crimes. Just last November, Canada opposed a United Nations motion which would require an opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the illegality of Israel’s occupation. Canada’s excuse is that “since it doesn’t recognize a Palestinian state, it wouldn’t recognize Palestine’s accession to international treaties.” However, 138 member states do in fact recognize a Palestinian state and ironically, Canada has voted in favour of Palestinian self-determination." Continue reading

"Historically, the Israeli judiciary and supreme court have given their stamp of approval to racist laws like the Jewish Nation State Law, Jewish settlement activities, and forced expulsions. Thus, Palestinian citizens of Israel fail to see how these protests will address the discriminatory and racist laws that they face." Continue reading

"What is completely absent from the article is any reference to the significant numbers of anti-apartheid and anti-occupation protesters, largely organized by the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) in the UK. One Twitter post calling for a protest by PSC was seen by over 39,000 people and was shared over 300 times. Photos show protesters with signs reading 'The occupation is a moral crisis' and 'no democracy with occupation,' largely from the 'Na’amod: British Jews Against Occupation' contingent." Continue reading

"You assert that there have been 'periodic flare-ups of fighting with the Palestinian Islamist-ruled Gaza strip.' Your use of the phrase 'periodic flare-ups' is inaccurate because it assumes sudden escalations of violence without cause. This completely ignores the context of the over 15-year punishing and illegal blockade imposed by Israel on the Gaza strip and its population. In fact, these escalations of violence are almost always instigated by Israel and quickly transform into a fully-fledged bombing campaign on Gaza, indiscriminately killing civilians. By omitting this critical context, your article assumes a pro-Israel, biased stance." Continue reading

"This sentence implies that the 'possibility of friction' results from an 'unusually large influx of worshippers and visitors,' which is an inaccurate claim. It is indeed true that tensions and violence are heightened during the holy month of Ramadan, however, this is due to Israel’s arbitrary restrictions on Palestinians in the city. In fact, the arbitrary imposition of restrictions at Damascus Gate, a key gathering site for Palestinians, was one of the triggers which contributed to the Palestinian uprising and acts of extreme Israeli violence in May of 2021." Continue reading

"I take issue with the language used to discuss the legal status of Israel’s colonial settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). In the article you state “Since then, more than 700,000 Israelis have moved into dozens of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem — which most of the world considers an obstacle to peace.” In an article by Ilan Ben Zion published by Associated Press, he states that “Most of the international community considers Israel’s West Bank settlements illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians.” Just as Ilan Ben Zion mentions these two points, I believe it is important and necessary that you do." Continue reading