The Media Accountability Project  

"However, you mention that the Al-Aqsa mosque sits on a “contested hilltop” revered as the third-holiest site in Islam and the holiest site in Judaism. This characterization fails to note that Al-Aqsa mosque is located in East Jerusalem which is an occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) under international law. This is not an opinion but a matter of a settled consensus at the international level, as confirmed by the United Nations General Assembly, the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, and the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention." 

Your headline “Israeli police absolved in killing of Palestinians at Al-Aqsa” is inconsistent with the content in your article. Your article provides Palestinian as well as Israeli accounts of the killing of Alasibi. In fact, your article states that there is no evidence to corroborate the Israeli police’s account asserting that Alasibi attacked an Israeli police officer.

"By omitting the fact that East Jerusalem is in Israeli-occupied territory, you exclude important context about the dynamic between Palestinians and Israeli forces, evidenced by the most recent incident in which Israeli forces restricted and assaulted Christian Palestinian worshippers and clerics wishing to visit the Holy Sepulchre for Easter prayer. As an occupying power, Israel does not have the right to interfere with the religious practices of the civilian population."

The term “separation barrier” is used by Israel to defend its construction. However, many Palestinians view this “barrier” as a restriction to their freedom of movement due to its annexation of Palestinian land. Therefore, Palestinians suggest the terms “annexation wall,” “segregation wall” or even “apartheid wall.” As such, I urge you to adopt one of these terms to describe this abhorrent structure violating the utmost basic human rights of Palestinians.

"Thanks to Rick Salutin for his insightful piece, “Is a potential civil war brewing among Israeli Jews?”  Salutin collapses a lot of history and religious lore into his piece, and provides an insightful read for people wanting to understand how Israel arrived at its current political and societal crisis."

"You rightfully call attention to criticism of IHRA in its use to repress and silence Palestine activism. It is very critical for Canadian audiences to be aware of this criticism seeing as IHRA has been adopted in many forums with little or no debate. Unfortunately, it has subsequently been used to undermine the free expression of many activists and human rights organizations fighting for Palestinian rights."

The omission of the fact that the reported events are taking place in occupied Palestinian territory may inadvertently mislead readers into thinking that the site is located within Israel, especially due to the references to “Israeli police.” Most readers are likely not aware that Israeli “police” would be operating in occupied territory.

Your article fails to specify that the Al-Aqsa Mosque is in fact in occupied East Jerusalem which is considered occupied Palestinian territory. This is not an opinion but a matter of settled consensus at the international level 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.

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."

In your description of the events, you fail to mention that Jerusalem’s Old City is in East Jerusalem, considered occupied Palestinian territory under international law. This is not an opinion but a settled consensus at the international level, as confirmed by the United Nations Security Council and other legal bodies. It is also the long-standing position of the Canadian government. By omitting this critical context, your article obfuscates the reality of the military occupation under which Palestinian residents of Jerusalem live.

"By deleting “occupied,” you misrepresent T’ruah’s own self-description, and you exclude context regarding Israel’s 55-year military occupation of Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem."