The Media Accountability Project  

Important context is missing. The handover of the abductees occurred as Israel continued to abduct more people in southern Lebanon, including three farmers from Halta on September 3, the same day Israel announced the release of the Lebanese-Syrian abductees. We therefore ask that this important context be added.

As your piece points out, Ms. Sa’d is a well-known provocateur who has been found to engage in harassing and discriminatory conduct by the Law Society of Ontario. She has also been associated with racists and conspiracy theorists according to the Canadian Anti-Hate Network.

We have seen far too many politicians and journalists obscure facts and bend logic in an effort to continue their support for a genocidal apartheid state. 

"I am requesting that the Toronto Star and the Associated Press add the specific Palestinian death toll to this article, in order to align with the standards of accuracy, fairness and balance set out in the Canadian Association of Journalists ethics guidelines."

The lack of accountability passage likewise leaves Lebanese political prisoners and the forcibly disappeared in legal limbo as the agreement does not require Israel to disclose their fate nor allow Red Cross visits.

Serious debate from both-sides ought to be centered on how we can implement a two-way arms embargo and prevent further bloodshed by ending direct sales, closing these legal loopholes, and cutting ties with the war machine that is Israel’s defense technology.

The framework also grants Israel the right to attack with the approval of the Lebanese government if Israel assesses there are “hostile intentions” or a risk of imminent threat approaching them. The agreement as well stipulates that Israel will not be pursued for crimes it has committed in the past or may commit in the future.

In Gaza, Israel continues to bomb Palestinians. In Lebanon, it continues its shelling, burning of agricultural land and homes, and heavy drone activity. In Iran, the US and Israel are restarting their destructive campaign. Canada has done too little to uphold its commitments to international law amidst Israel’s violence. 

None of Israel's neighbours consider Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, so if they believe in normalizing relations with Israel, it is with Tel Aviv, not Jerusalem.