The Media Accountability Project  

In an article focused on Israeli Minister Smotrich’s call to “erase” Hawara and Netanyahu’s response, it is alarming that the description of events leading up is so one-sided. The two Israeli brothers who were killed in the leadup are mentioned, but the Palestinian casualties are omitted. In a story about erasing a town, this is essential information.

On March 6, 2023, the CBC published an analysis by Asia Correspondent Saša Petricic about a pogrom by Israeli settlers against the Palestinian town of Huwara in the occupied West Bank, and the link between Israeli settlers and Israel’s far-right government.

CJPME notified CBC about a factual error, in which the article claimed that a Palestinian man was “killed by rioting Israeli settlers.” However, as CJPME wrote, investigations from journalists have not been able to determine whether 37-year-old Sameh Aqtesh was killed by settlers or if he was actually killed by Israeli soldiers, who were present at the scene. CJPME requested a correction to the article “to accurately reflect that Sameh Aqtesh was killed by Israeli fire, although it is uncertain whether the shot came from settlers or soldiers.” This is significant because Israel has been trying to minimize its role in the violence. Further, CJPME insisted that the article “should also make clear that Israeli forces were present in the area when he was killed, and that there are credible allegations that they were responsible for his death.”

The CBC partially corrected its error on March 7, 2023, noting that a Palestinian man was “killed amid rioting by Israeli settlers,” which is technically correct but less precise, and omits key details which point to the possibility that Israeli soldiers may have been directly responsible for the killing of Sameh Aqtesh. CJPME has asked for the article to be updated further to reflect this information.

"You write that 'one Palestinian man [was] killed by rioting Israeli settlers.' In fact, while the fact that he was killed by Israeli fire is not in dispute, it is an open question of whether he was killed by settlers or by Israeli soldiers. Relatives of Sameh Aqtesh claim that he was shot by Israeli soldiers, while investigations by Israeli news outlets are not conclusive but confirm the presence of Israeli soldiers during the attack. For example, Haaretz has reported that although 'the source of the gunfire that killed Aqtash cannot be determined,' the killing 'took place in front of soldiers who were standing next to a group of settlers.'"

"The framing of a “cycle of violence” between Jewish settlers and Palestinians is problematic when describing recent events and Israel’s occupation of Palestine. While there is an element of truth to this framing, as the actions of either party often trigger a response, it is extremely misleading for readers who are not aware of the power dynamics at play. Such framing obscures the overall asymmetrical nature of the violence, in which Israel as an occupying power maintains a system of oppression and apartheid over Palestinians. One of the ways in which this oppressive system is imposed is through Israel’s expanding network of settlements which empower settlers to carry out attacks and pogroms against Palestinians with utmost impunity."

On February 27, 2023, the National Post and other outlets published a story by the Associated Press on a pogrom by Israeli settlers against the Palestinian town of Huwara in the occupied West Bank. However, while the deaths of three Israelis killed by Palestinians before and after the attack were prominently discussed at the top of the article, it did not mention that a Palestinian was also killed until halfway through the article.

CJPME responded to the Associated Press and National Post about this error, insisting that the Palestinian killed by Israeli fire should be mentioned in the first two paragraphs:

“There is an unjustified asymmetry in how Israeli and Palestinian casualties are reported. While the three Israelis who were killed in two incidents are mentioned in the headline and first paragraphs of the article, it is not until the 14th paragraph until you mention that a Palestinian was killed during the Israeli settler attack on Huwara (Hawara) and surrounding villages. The killing of Sameh al-Aqtash, who is unnamed in the article, is the immediate context for today’s retaliatory attack on an Israeli motorist, and this should have featured prominently in the story.”

Within a day, the Associated Press story was updated to properly reference the Palestinian killed by Israeli fire in the second paragraph.

On January 25, 2023, the Toronto Star published a story by the Associated Press which presented inaccurate statistics related to Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in 2022. The original version of the story incorrectly stated that “Wednesday’s deaths brought to 20 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire this year. Nearly 150 Palestinians were killed last year, making it the deadliest since 2004, according to figures by the Israeli rights group B’Tselem” (emphasis added).

CJPME brought this error to the attention of the Toronto Star’s public editor and the Associated Press, requesting a correction. As we noted, the figures cited by B’Tselem refer only to Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in the occupied West Bank (including East Jerusalem), and do not include Gaza. When Gaza is included in the figures, the total number of Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in 2022 is 182.

On February 1, 2023, the Associated Press made a correction to the story which appeared in the Toronto Star and other outlets and included the following editor’s note: “This story was first published on January 25, 2023. It was updated on February 1, 2023 to make clear that Nearly 150 Palestinians were killed in Israeli -Palestinian fighting last year in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, making it the deadliest in those areas since 2004, according to figures by the Israeli rights group B’Tselem.”

"Even if the statistics are accurate, it would be far more relevant to say that about half of those killed are civilians, including at least 13 children killed by Israeli fire since the start of 2023. That would mean that approximately 1 in 5 Palestinians killed this year have been children."

"However, there is an unjustified asymmetry in how Israeli and Palestinian casualties were reported while presenting the segment on both The National and CBC News Network. While the Israeli who was killed on Monday was mentioned, there is no similar mention that a Palestinian was killed during the Israeli settler attack on Huwara and surrounding villages. The killing of Sameh al-Aqtash1 is the immediate context for yesterday’s retaliatory attack on an Israeli motorist, as is accurately reflected in the segment itself. His death should have been mentioned in the preliminary remarks."

"Israeli settlers did not just burn and vandalize 'hundreds of vehicles and buildings' as you claim in your introduction. Over a period of four hours, more than 400 settlers torched at least 75 Palestinian homes, 35 of which were destroyed completely. In fact, at least nine families reportedly had to be rescued from their burning homes. Although the settlers announced their intention to commit this horrific crime, Israeli forces allowed them to enter the towns freely and did not intervene until hours after the start of the violence. By solely reporting on the vehicles and buildings impacted, you are minimizing the human cost of what many are calling a 'pogrom' against Palestinians."

"While the three Israelis who were killed in two incidents are mentioned in the headline and first paragraphs of the article, there is no mention that a Palestinian was killed during the Israeli settler attack on Huwara (Hawara) and surrounding villages. The killing of Sameh al-Aqtash, is the immediate context for the retaliatory attack on an Israeli motorist, and this should have featured prominently in the story. This omission is not acceptable, but shows an unjustified asymmetry in how Israeli and Palestinian casualties are reported."