The Media Accountability Project  

"There are several issues in your article. First, you do not provide a description of B’nai Brith. B'nai Brith Canada is a self-professed staunch defender of the State of Israel and a pro-Israel advocacy organization. Not providing information about B’nai Brith is misleading and unfair as their pro-Israel stances are often conflated with antisemitism."

"While it is fair for journalist Joshua Freeman to quote various individuals who describe the graffiti in Thornhill (which featured the phrases 'Free Palestine' and 'Free Gaza') as antisemitic, it is entirely inappropriate and unfair for the journalist himself to describe the graffiti in these terms. The full details of the case are yet unknown, including the identity and intentions of the suspect. As such, this cannot definitely be described as a clear-cut case of antisemitism, especially considering the content of the graffiti."

"The ADL is not merely a Jewish advocacy organization but one that explicitly supports Israel’s Zionist project. It has a history of labeling Palestinian rights movements as antisemitic, conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism. Palestinian rights movements are demonstrating against Israel’s settler colonial project in Palestinian territories and its apartheid system, not against Judaism itself."

On June 20, 2024, CJPME informed the Canadian Jewish News (CJN) that their article featured a false headline. The story, originally titled “Hundreds rallied outside Toronto school board offices to protest a racism report that doesn’t mention antisemitism,” was about a Toronto District School Board (TSDB) discrimination policy. The report in question, Combating Hate and Racism: Student Learning Strategy, mentions antisemitism six times. While CJN framed the issue around the omission of antisemitism, most protesters actually opposed the inclusion of anti-Palestinian racism in the report.

In order to resolve the false headline, CJN changed it to “Hundreds rallied outside Toronto school board offices to protest a racism report that doesn’t mention rising antisemitism.” This new headline is not entirely true either or is at least deliberately misleading. The article’s framing suggests that this represents some kind of double standard in the report. However, the report does not discuss the rise in any specific form of hate. Rather, it states, “Incidents related to hate and racism have seen a significant rise globally and nationally.” Given that it lists antisemitism as a form of hate, it can be safely assumed that they are referring to its rise along with other forms.

The CJN new editor’s note reads “CORRECTION: While the original headline on this story indicated the report doesn’t mention antisemitism at all, that is incorrect as the report references it six times, without alluding to the recent rise.”

Ultimately, the CJN is masking the reality that protesters came to the TSDB board meeting to protest anti-Palestinian racism. This was a shameful protest, and it should not be misrepresented. While CJPME appreciates the correction, we believe it is inadequate and remains misleading.

Housefather’s tweet, including the picture of the poster you link, reads: “My family has been there since the 19th century, and we have indeed helped build this country. I am not going anywhere. Sorry antisemites. You may not like what I have to say but I will keep saying it and I will keep being a proud Jew and a Zionist.”

"While I am not here to defend Brock University Sociology professor Tamari Kitossa and his writings, it is misleading to accuse him of antisemitism when the accusations stem from the “critics” whom you don’t correctly identify."

"Geist touts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, but fails to mention that this definition recklessly conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism. Other definitions of antisemitism – the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, for example – define antisemitism while still leaving space for critics of Israel to condemn its war crimes and apartheid."

«L’appel au boycottage des restaurants est présenté comme le résultat d’antisémitisme plutôt que le résultat de leur position pro-israélienne.» 

"Rosie Dimanno’s endorsement of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, without acknowledging its controversial nature, dangerously encourages the idea that criticism of Israel is equivalent to antisemitism. This is an approach that has been used by many to shut down conversations about Palestinians and their suffering – perpetuating anti-Palestinian racism."

"Drawing parallels between the State of Israel’s policies (Zionism) and Neo-Nazism and terrorism is not the same as drawing parallels between Judaism and Neo-Nazism or terrorism. The poster was in reference to Housefather’s self-identification as Zionist and not his Jewish identity. Housefather’s full social media post demonstrates his conflation of antisemitism and anti-Zionism and, thus, his persistent attempts at mischaracterizing legitimate criticism of himself and the Zionist project he staunchly supports as unbridled antisemitism. Your inaccurate reporting of events dangerously enables his conflation of anti-Zionism and antisemitism."