The Media Accountability Project  

"Hamas does play an important role in Gaza in the same way that an inmate in a prison cell has a certain autonomy in his own cell. Nevertheless, just as it is the prison warden who is truly in control of the prison, Israel is truly in control of what happens in Gaza. Hamas does not control who or what goes in and out of Gaza, and any influence it may have over energy, water, airspace, cell access, etc. is at the pleasure of Israel – the occupying power."

Readers may also be confused since your reporting maintains that the recent shooting attack against Israelis took place in the “occupied West Bank,” whereas you do not use the same characterization for occupied East Jerusalem. The decision to use the term “occupied” to describe the West Bank, but not East Jerusalem, gives a false impression that the latter is not also occupied.

This essential context is necessary for readers to be able to understand the nature of the “tensions” and violence by Israeli forces in occupied East Jerusalem. Omitting the fact that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is in occupied Palestinian territory may advertently mislead readers into thinking that the mosque is located within Israel’s recognized borders, especially due to the references to “Israeli police.” Considering the Globe and Mail’s high stature, it is frankly very disappointing that this critical fact was left out of your news article.

"Palestinian worshippers including men, women, children, and elderly people were peacefully praying when Israeli forces stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque prayer hall and began to assault dozens of worshippers who were beaten with batons and riot guns, stamped on, and arrested. While it is true that some worshippers responded to the invasion in self-defence with rocks and firecrackers, the framing of this as a clash obscures the highly asymmetrical nature of the violence and obscures Israel’s role as the aggressor party. It implies that the nominal act of self-defence by Palestinians is equivalent to the aggressive violence of Israel’s raid on a place of worship."

“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."

"Haaretz quotes the human rights group Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) in describing the national guard as "a private, armed militia that would be directly under Ben-Gvir's control,” and warns that “this is a police force that will first and foremost act in mixed cities, first and foremost against the Arab population [read: Palestinian citizens of Israel].”"

This article omits critical information regarding Netanyahu’s decision to pause the Israeli parliament’s proposed judicial reforms. The reason that the far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir agreed to this legislative pause, rather than resign from the coalition, was in return for a commitment from Netanyahu to establish a “national guard” under Ben-Gvir’s control.

"While Cohen argues that the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) is not representative of Canadian Jews, his decision to exclude mention of Independent Jewish Voices reflects his own myopia around Canadian Jews of different backgrounds, occupations and affiliations, especially those who are committed to social justice and human rights."

In the first two weeks of March 2023, there was a series of articles in media outlets reporting on unfair accusations against Sarah Jama, the Ontario NDP candidate in the Hamilton Centre byelection, related to her advocacy for Palestinian human rights. Jama is a well-respected disability rights activist with a long history of speaking out for Palestinians.

In total, CJPME responded to 7 such articles and news broadcasts, including in the Toronto Sun, Toronto Star, and National Post. CJPME took issue with how they had helped to fuel the smear campaign against Jama by relying on highly contestable claims made by the pro-Israel group B’nai Brith Canada, thereby presenting activists in a one-sided and negative light. None of them provided a perspective from the Palestine solidarity movement itself nor mentioned the many civil society groups who support Jama’s activism.

As a result of our persistent advocacy, CJPME’s perspective on Jama’s Palestine activism and the smear campaign against her was incorporated into media coverage on the subject, including articles in the Globe and Mail and Toronto Star, and syndicated elsewhere. The Toronto Star's coverage was also updated to include a Palestinian perspective on the meaning of a popular chant. CJPME also had a statement featured on multiple CP24 news broadcasts aired on March 16 and 17. This helped restore some balance to the otherwise skewed reporting. Jama was elected MPP on March 16. Click here to read all of our letters on this subject.

Like many, we were horrified by the unfair attacks on #hamont MPP @SarahJama_ due her courageous support for Palestinian human rights, but encouraged to see voters reject this smear. Thanks to @CP24 for including our perspective in coverage of last night’s election result. pic.twitter.com/ATE5MYlNnV

— Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (@CJPME) March 17, 2023

I was particularly pleased to find that you included the book Homeland: My Father Dreams of Palestine, which explores the Palestinian perspectives on the diaspora and forced displacement. Palestinian perspectives are often silenced or deliberately left out of Canadian public discourse, evidenced by attempts to censor books that discuss Palestine or even include a historic map of Palestinian. By including this book among your recommendations for young readers, you are highlighting Palestinian narratives and experiences and how their lives were upended by the 1947 UN plan to partition historic Palestine.