The Media Accountability Project  

"The segment incorrectly describes the West Bank as 'disputed' and Gaza as a 'conflict zone.' According to international law, both the West Bank and Gaza strip constitute Palestinian territories under Israeli military occupation. This is not an opinion but represents the international legal consensus as confirmed by the United Nations Security Council, the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, and the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention. We insist that future reporting correctly identifies the West Bank and Gaza as Palestinian territories occupied by Israel." Continue reading

"Your news segment sheds light on the rise in tensions and violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank which resulted in the death of Amir Bustami, a 21-year old Palestinian man, by Israeli forces. However, I would like to point out several problems with your video segment. First, you report that the events are taking place in the “West Bank.” However, you fail to mention that the West Bank has been militarily-occupied by Israel since 1967 according to international law. Referring to it only as the “West Bank” omits critical context and fails to adequately describe the oppressive situation that Palestinians in the occupied West Bank face. We ask that future reporting correctly identifies the West Bank as Palestinian territory occupied by Israel." Continue reading

"The Coast 89.7 segment only notes the context of violence against Israelis, without noting the greater violence against Palestinians. You mention a shooting against Israelis which took place on January 27th; however, you fail to mention the preceding large-scale Israeli attack on the Jenin refugee camp on January 26th, where at least ten Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces, three being civilians, including two children, marking the deadliest single day in the West Bank since 2005. The Israeli raid was preceded by a more than weeklong siege of Jericho by Israeli military forces." Continue reading

"Overall, the article does a fine job at providing context for the recent rise in tensions and violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Jerusalem. However, I would like to draw your attention to two significant issues. First, the article mentions that Hamas “rules the Gaza strip.” Referring to Gaza only as “the Gaza strip” obscures the fact that Gaza is militarily-occupied territory according to international law. In doing so, the article fails to adequately describe the oppressive situation that Palestinians in Gaza face, and does not properly capture the severe restrictions as a result of Israel’s 15 year-long illegal blockade and siege.[1] The Arab and Middle Eastern Journalists Association (AMEJA) encourages journalists to avoid the language of “Hamas-controlled” or “Hamas-ruled” for this same reason, as it minimizes Israel’s control as an occupying power.[2]" Continue reading

"We applaud you for shedding light on the tragic story of a Palestinian family killed in Turkey’s earthquake, among seventy other Palestinians who were victims of the natural disaster. It is imperative for publications like Saltwire to provide the Palestinian perspective to Canadian audiences. However, the article is missing context which is crucial for readers to be able to understand the reality of the Israeli occupation. In the article, you mention that Abu Jalhoum “fled war and poverty in the Palestinian territory of Gaza.” Referring to Gaza only as “Palestinian territory” obscures the fact that Gaza is militarily-occupied territory according to international law. In doing so, the article fails to adequately describe the oppressive situation that Palestinians in Gaza face, and does not properly capture the severe restrictions as a result of Israel’s 15 year-long illegal blockade and siege.[1]" Continue reading

"The article sheds light on the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism which is being proposed as part of a larger anti-racism motion to city council. We thank you for mentioning the U.N. report which criticizes IHRA, and for briefly noting some of the key concerns. However, I would like to point out a number of areas where this discussion could be strengthened. First, you write that “some groups, including one Jewish group, claim it could curtail criticism of Israel and Zionism.” This sentence fails to capture the strong opposition by many Canadian civil society groups against the adoption of IHRA. If your article mentioned some of these prominent and respected organizations, it would be clear to the reader that the opposition to IHRA is widespread and based on serious concerns." Continue reading

"According to an investigation by the Palestinian human rights NGO, Defence for Children International – Palestine (DCIP), 16-year-old Hamza Ashqar was killed while he was with a group of youth confronting Israeli military vehicles which had invaded the Palestinian city of Nablus in the occupied West Bank. DCIP reports that these youth were unarmed" Continue reading

"The article does a good job of analyzing this event and its implications for academic freedom and democracy, and provides a much-needed Palestinian perspective. These viewpoints are often overlooked or erased in the national discourse about Palestine-Israel. By republishing this article, National Post is contributing to much-needed professional, diverse, and fair-minded coverage on this issue." Continue reading

"Throughout the program, Jericho is described simply as being in Palestine or the “Palestinian Territories,” but does not specify that it is occupied territory. Similarly, a map shows Jericho within an outline of the West Bank, but does not identify it nor specify that it is occupied. Instead, the segment uses the language of “enduring border disputes” and of two parties “claim[ing] and “fight[ing] over the same territory.”  Continue reading

"Unfortunately, the article failed to provide sufficient information and lacked necessary context for the readers to be able to understand the nature of Israel’s actions. In particular, your article only notes the context of violence against Israelis, without noting the greater violence against Palestinians. First, the article fails to mention that Israel’s raid on Aqabat Jabr refugee camp in Jericho took place after the city had been under an Israeli siege for more than a week, and was one of multiple attacks on residents.[2] Second, the raid took place just ten days after a large-scale Israeli attack on the Jenin refugee camp, where at least nine Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces, three being civilians including two children, marking the deadliest single day in the West Bank since 2005.[3] This attack was condemned by UN experts arguing that it contributed to “a dangerous trajectory of violence in the occupied West Bank.”[4]" Continue reading