The BBC is arguably the most anti-Israel TV station currently broadcasting on general-access channels to the UK public. Even including Al Jazeera's English channel - this seems still to hold. But it is more than a perception; why has the BBC spent over £200,000 for almost five years to suppress the Balen Report, commissioned by the BBC, to look into anti-Israel bias by the corporation?
The recent (tentative) decision by the BBC not to broadcast the DEC (Disasters and Emergency Committee) appeal for humanitarian aid to Gaza is a transparent attempt to remove this accusation. However, the BBC is in fact encouraging listeners to contribute, indicating how to find the DEC web site on, for example, BBC’s Broadcasting House (Radio 4, today, 9 am). If you call the BBC's complaint line (03700 100 222) today (25 January 2009) you will find that there is a dedicated option - option number One - for complaints against this decision. There is no dedicated option for those applauding it.
But in fact, there is no reason not to support humanitarian aid to the civilians of Gaza. Currently Israel is the greatest contributor, with a continuous convoy of humanitarian aid trucks crossing into Gaza through the Israeli check points, even during the conflict. And on the 18th of January a forward emergency treatment centre was opened at the Erez crossing into Gaza to enable Israeli doctors to continue to treat wounded Gazan civilians, much as they had done at the Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon during the campaign.
This is yet another example of the BBC playing the emotions of the British public - arousing feeling that due to "pressure" they would even be prevented for appealing for help for wounded Palestinian babies. And, of course, demonstrating how "impartial" they really are.
Result? A massive upswell in anti-Israeli feeling in a public already well-indoctrinated by the BBC's continuous onslaught, accompanied by a DEC appeal replete with all the fake and/or genuine pictures of Gazan war victims, so lovingly collected by that humanitarian organization, Hamas.
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2 comments:
Hi Allen
Just this morning Sue and I were discussing this very subject.
The BBC regularily broadcasts appeals, so what's their problem?
Very cynical and devious I would say?
Regards
Brian Citron
It's the correct call by the BBC and Sky but its whipping up the usual anti-Israel voices. Gerald Kauffman, in particular, is a truly wretched individual. If you look at the comments posted on the BBC web site about the decision, opinion seems pretty split.
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