Last weekend, Hamas terrorists in Gaza carried out a horrifying wave of violence against Israeli civilians, resulting in the deaths of at least 1300 people, with thousands more injured and hundreds held hostage as human shields. This brutal act of terrorism included murder, arson, beheadings, shootings, beatings, kidnappings, rapes, and immolations, highlighting the textbook tactics employed by Hamas. However, a leaked email has revealed a disturbing aspect of CBC’s editorial policy, which allegedly instructs reporters not to refer to Hamas as terrorists.
The leaked email, believed to be written by CBC employee George Achi, who serves as the director of journalistic standards, states that journalists should refrain from using the term “terrorists” when referring to Hamas gunmen. Instead, Achi suggests that reporters should use “fact-based language” and avoid labeling them as terrorists. It is important to note that Hamas is officially designated as a terrorist organization by the Government of Canada.
CBC’s director of journalistic standards also apparently instructed journalists not to describe 2005 as the end of the occupation in Gaza. This directive raises concerns about the editorial bias that may be influencing CBC’s coverage of the conflict.
Even CBC Kids seems to be adhering to this narrative, as evidenced by an article on the Gaza-Israel conflict published on their website. Instead of using the term “terrorists,” the article refers to Hamas as a Palestinian militant group and defines militants as groups of people who use aggressive or violent actions to support a cause. This portrayal fails to acknowledge the gravity of Hamas’ actions and the harm inflicted upon Israeli victims.
Furthermore, the article focuses primarily on ways to help Gaza, providing a list of actions that can be taken but neglecting to mention any support for Israelis affected by the attacks. This omission adds to the one-sided depiction of the conflict.
The CBC Gaza-Israel conflict explainer video also contributes to this skewed narrative. Starting with Israel’s history in 1897, the video overlooks ancient roots, such as biblical and archaeological evidence, and suggests that Jews were magically transported to the Holy Land. It also misrepresents the events leading up to the conflict, claiming that Israel sparked several wars rather than being attacked shortly after declaring independence.
The video fails to explain why Gaza has been blockaded or why it was turned over entirely to the Palestinians. Instead, it paints Israel as the aggressor and implies that Gaza is being choked for no apparent reason, disregarding the fact that Israel provides essential resources like food, water, and electricity to Gaza despite the ongoing terrorism emanating from the region.
Perhaps the most concerning aspect of CBC’s coverage is the assertion in the video that “both sides have used violence to protect themselves.” This attempt at moral equivalence between self-defense and acts of terror and murder reflects a flawed understanding of the situation. It is crucial to distinguish between the two and not downplay the horrific nature of terrorism.
These examples of biased reporting and the alleged email from CBC’s director of journalistic standards raise serious questions about the objectivity and integrity of CBC’s coverage of the Gaza-Israel conflict. As a publicly funded broadcaster, CBC has a responsibility to provide fair and accurate information, which includes using appropriate terminology to accurately describe acts of terrorism.
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