CTV Provides Platform for Antisemitic Comment

By Mike Fegelman

June 5, 2013

On May 24, CTV.ca web editors approved the following antisemitic comment that was appended to an article about an Israeli military vehicle that came under attack by Syrian armed forces:

When Israel’s right to exist is denied – alone, among all peoples in the world – this constitutes antisemitism. When individual’s calls for the Jewish state’s disappearance and its 6 million Jews to be ethnically cleansed from the sovereign state of Israel, that is also antisemitism and some might contend even incites hatred.

As argued by prominent Israeli author, historian, and Chairman of the Jewish Agency, Natan Sharansky“In the past, anti-Semites tried to deny the legitimacy of the Jewish religion, the Jewish people, or both. Today, they are trying to deny the legitimacy of the Jewish state, presenting it, among other things, as the last vestige of colonialism. While criticism of an Israeli policy may not be anti-Semitic, the denial of Israel’s right to exist is always anti-Semitic. If other peoples have a right to live securely in their homelands, then the Jewish people have a right to live securely in their homeland.”

CTV’s comment policy states: “Bell Media reviews every comment submitted, and reserves the right to approve comments and edit for brevity and clarity. Please be advised: Comments are moderated and will not appear on site until they have been reviewed.”

Its comment guidelines say that comments must “stimulate debate” while CTV commits to “not publish comments that are profane, libelous, racist, or engage in personal attacks.”

On a daily basis, HonestReporting Canada works with Canada’s online news editors flagging hateful comments that go well beyond the realm of legitimate opinion. After repeatedly flagging this comment to CTV.ca web editors and having seen no action taken, we brought this matter to the attention of CTV’s President, Ms. Wendy Freeman. Regrettably, even CTV’s most senior executive also took no action to remove this comment which is still hosted on CTV’s website.

That CTV staff approved this comment in the first place is disturbing, but that CTV editors took no action when alerted to the antisemitic nature of this comment, is especially alarming.

Please call on CTV to remove this comment. Please send your considered comments to CTV President Wendy Freeman at: Wendy.Freeman@bellmedia.ca

Comments

You may also like