Jewish CBC journalist faces discipline over comments about anti-Israel protest

Article content

A CBC spokesperson told National Post by email: “We respect the privacy rights of our employees and won’t comment on internal matters. However, we are aware of reporting on this matter that contains errors and mischaracterizations.”

Article content

The spokesperson did not say what those errors and mischaracterizations were, citing “the privacy of the situation.”

Article content

While the CBC has not commented on the reason for its action, a spokesperson for the group Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) told National Post: “We submitted complaints to CBC’s Ombud and the Values and Ethics Commissioner. In addition, we created a campaign for others to complain to the Commissioner.”

Article content

The group also shared its letter to the CBC, which says Herland’s post “was fundamentally misleading to an extent that it appears to be deliberate, resulting in disinformation that defames pro-Palestinian activists.”

Article content

It goes on to quote CBC’s Journalistic Standards and Practices, which says that reporting on riots and demonstrations “should avoid inflaming or aiding in any way the various sides in a confrontation.” It adds: “Mr. Herland clearly violates these practices.”

Article content

Article content

Aliza Spiro, creative director of The Song Shul and songwriter and singer, wrote a blog post this week titled: “Yup. That Was My Shul: How it feels after a Yom Kippur pro-Palestinian protest.”

Article content

She wrote: “Cantor Spiro, the Spiritual Leader (as well as my husband, music-partner, and co-founder), walked outside, proudly wearing his white kittel, talit, and kippah, and smiled at the protesters, only to hear one scream into his megaphone, ‘The Jew smiles while he murders babies in Gaza!’”

Article content

She added: “When the police officer told Cantor Spiro not to antagonize them, the Cantor said to the officer, ‘Really?! They are the ones screaming insults at my members. They are the ones disrupting our prayers on this holy day. They are the ones spreading hate speech. You’d be well within your rights to arrest them.’”

Article content

Toronto police kept protesters about five metres away from the door but did not make any arrests.

Article content

Herland’s post and CBC’s reaction have garnered worldwide attention. Britain’s Jewish News ran a story about the situation, while Florida Congressman Randy Fine, a Republican, responded to the original post, saying of the protesters: “Try this in Florida, and you go to prison for five years.”

Article content

Article content