Radio-Canada apologizes after one of its reporters used an anti-Semitic language during a television broadcast on Monday.
The correspondent Elisa Serret was making a television success of Washington about the visit of the United States Secretary of State from Marco Rubio to Israel, a trip that occurred shortly after the Israeli forces launched attacks on Hamas’ objectives in Qatar.
Asked by the host of the news program Terrain de Sur Why the United States has not distanced itself from Israel following that military action, Serret said in French “the Israeli, in fact, the Jews, finance a lot of American politics” and control a “great machine.”
He added that the big cities in the United States and Hollywood are “led by Jews.”
In a statement published on its website, Radio-Canada described the comments of Serret as “stereotypical, anti-Semitic, erroneous and harmful accusations against Jewish communities.”
“These unacceptable comments against Radio-Canada’s journalistic standards and practices and in no way reflect the opinion of the public issuer. As a result, the news department has decided to relieve the journalist of their duties until new notice,” reads the French statement.
“We are aware that these comments have offended many spectators. We sinitely apologize and regret this.”
Serret’s comments obtained the condemnation of the Quebec chapter of the Jewish Affairs Center and Jewish Affairs (Cija), a Canadian group for the defense of Jewish rights.
In a publication on social networks, Cija said Radio-Canada was spreading “anti-Semitic lies.”
The Canadian Minister of Identity and Culture, Steven Guilbeault, the Minister responsible for CBC/Radio-Canada, said that “anti-Semitism does not take place in Canada” and Serret’s comments were “pernicious anti-Semitic troops.”
“When journalists use anti -Semitic language, or anyone in a trust position, runs the risk of normalizing the hatred in deeply dangerous ways,” Guilbeault said.
Liberal deputy Anthony Housefather, who was appointed Special Advisor of the Government on Relationships and Anti -Semitism of the Jewish community last year, said Serret said “troops of textbooks that are antisemy under the definition of IHRA”, which has been adopted by the Government of Canada.
That is a reference to the international alliance of the Holocaust, which explicitly establishes any statement that the Jews control the media, the economy, the government or other social institutions is an example of anti -Semitism.
Housefather said it is a “positive development” that Radio-Canada apologized, relieved Serret of his duties and made it clear that it is unacceptable to use that type of language.
