Misreporting can have serious consequences

Dr Bryna Lewis

My objection to Maimane’s remark, as printed in The Sowetan, was not to the DA as a proponent of a two-state solution to the Israel/Palestine problem, as indicated by my “general consensus”. I mentioned the fact to put his second remark in context. My objection was to Maimane’s imputed (Mr Bagraim’s “absolutely incorrect”) statement that the Jewish community’s position is “narrow and fundamentalist”.  

Such a derogatory pronouncement can only worsen the perception of Jews in the eyes of The Sowetan’s readers. This is deeply regrettable, as we have enough enemies in the broader community, to say nothing of individual Jews, and is not merely “a storm in a teacup” as Jack Bloom thinks. The reporter should be told of the serious implication of his error, in the hopes that he will be more careful in future.

Port Elizabeth