UK press debates BBC decision to block Gaza aid appeal
Posted on Jan 27 2009 by George Weyman. Filed under: Journalism, Palestinian-Israeli conflict, Press summaryCouncil for Arab-British Understanding London press review Tuesday 27 January.
The Daily Telegraph
Home News
Minister unhappy at BBC decision on Gaza appeal
Rosa Prince
“The BBC’s refusal to screen a humanitarian appeal for Gaza has been criticised by Douglas Alexander, the International Development Secretary.”
Gordon’s plea for a rescue from Khartoum to be sold at auction
News Digest
“This 125-year-old plea for rescue written in Arabic on a scrap of paper by General Gordon of Khartoum is to be sold.”
World News
We will not take any more Guantánamo prisoners, Britain tells America
Bruno Waterfield
“Britain told the United States yesterday that it would not take any more detainees from the Guantanamo Bay prison camp despite an appeal from President Barack Obama for help from Europe.
Ex-bouncer is key to power in Israel
Damien McElroy
“A former nightclub bouncer viewed as an anti-Arab extremist is the main political beneficiary of the Gaza war and could hold the balance of power in a new parliament after elections.”
Comment
Who takes the inmates?
“It was always going to be easier for President Obama to close the camp at Guantanamo Bay than it will be to relocate the 250 inmates still held there.”
Letters
BBC’s attempt to claim high moral ground on Gaza appeal is late and hypocritical
Robert Readman
“SIR – The BBC’s claim that broadcasting a humanitarian appeal on behalf of the people of Gaza would breach its code of impartiality (report, January 26) will ring hollow in the ears of many.”
John Wainwright
“SIR – After years of biased reporting on issues ranging from the EU constitution to global warming, how odd it is that the BBC finally discovers “impartiality” over a humanitarian appeal.”
R. S. Don
“SIR – The Israelis constantly told us they were doing all they could to limit the damage to civilians and children.”
Ian Johnson
“SIR – Douglas Roberts states (Letters, January 26) that “the Palestinians receive more aid per capita than any other people on the planet”.”
Sally Williams
“SIR – I refuse to give money to the Disasters Emergency Committee for two reasons. One is that it is an extra layer of administration on top of the layer of the individual charity.”
Sue Cooke
“SIR – I am planning to cancel my television licence and support the DEC, so that it can get on with its life-saving work.”
Dr Peter Caddick-Adams
“SIR – With each controversy, support for the BBC has shrunk faster than the share price of a London bank.”
Robert Vincent
“SIR – Am I to understand that, until the BBC broadcasts an appeal, none of us can help ease the suffering of the people of war-torn Gaza?”
Art
Mocking the mullahs
Richard Dorment
“The contemporary Middle Eastern art in this Saatchi show is passionate and risky, says Richard Dorment.”
Business
Just adjusting the accounts by $8bn (Not available online)
Jonathan Russell
“Are Saudi corporates starting to take a leaf out of the Western banking industry’s book of accounting?”
The Financial Times National News BSkyB refuses to broadcast Gaza appeal Ben Fenton “British Sky Broadcasting on Monday joined the BBC in refusing to broadcast an appeal for victims of violence in Gaza, as protests against the position intensified.” EU fails to agree Guantánamo stance World News Netanyahu ahead as US envoy heads for Israel Comment Unbalanced Beeb Letters Root cause of Mideast impasse =========================================== |
| The Guardian |
| National News
How the call for aid to Gaza left the BBC in the thick of battle To show or not to show? World News Comment Writing cheques for Gaza is easy. Politics is the tricky bit. This absurd BBC decision is part of a wider malaise It’s Mark Thompson’s call. Politicians should shut it. Editorial BBC and Gaza: Error of judgement Letters The BBC, impartiality and the Gaza appeal Keith Steiner, Peterborough: “The BBC has made the correct decision.” Michael McCarthy, London: “Given Mark Thompson’s devotion to the cause of BBC impartiality, perhaps he could reassure us that when he went on his charm offensive to Israel in 2005 and held talks with Ariel Sharon, he took the opportunity to talk also to Palestinian leaders in the occupied territories.” Rev Brian Jenner, South Yorkshire: “Your correspondents all seem to have missed the trick.” John Pearson, Leeds: “Holocaust Memorial Day is about highlighting the plight of persecuted people around the world.” ===========================================
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| The Independent National News Public give 600,000 pounds to Gaza appeal before broadcasts are aired Jerome Taylor “The Gaza appeal which the BBC is refusing to broadcast raised 600,000 before it was shown.” World News Army rabbi ‘gave out hate leaflet to troops’Ben Lynfield “The Israeli army’s chief rabbinate gave soldiers preparing to enter the Gaza Strip a booklet implying that all Palestinians are their mortal enemies and advising them that cruelty is sometimes a “good attribute”.” Opinion When charities turn political, the BBC is right to tread warily The BBC is damned if it does, damned if it does not Letters Has the BBC no compassion? Angela Peyton, Suffolk: “I think the BBC is gravely mistaken in their refusal to broadcast the appeal for humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza.” Roger Morgan, Surrey: “It is a splendid irony that the BBC’s refusal to broadcast the Gaza appeal has given more publicity to that appeal, and the suffering in Gaza, than the organisers could have dreamt of.” Dr Brian W Beeley, Kent: “We have been told by the Israeli military that their assault on Gaza involved careful, precision targeting of Hamas resistance fighters and officials.” ================================================== |
The Times
Home News
Trust to look at BBC’s Gaza appeal refusal
Patrick Foster, Rosemary Bennett
“The BBC’s internal regulator is to investigate the corporation’s decision not to transmit the Disasters Emergency Committee’s appeal for the aid effort in Gaza, The Times has learnt.”
World News
Freed Guantánamo prisoners taunt America as closure plan falls apart
Tim Reid
“President Obama’s plan to close Guantánamo Bay within a year appeared to be unravelling yesterday with the emergence of former inmates on terrorist websites, fierce opposition in the US and a lukewarm response to taking detainees from the European Union.”
Mitchell begins Middle East peace effort (Not available online)
James Hider, Sheera Frenkel
“George Mitchell, the new US peace envoy, flies to Israel today to put a stamp on the Obama Administration’s determination to tackle the Middle East conflict.”
Islamists ‘take over’ (Not available online)
AFP
“Hardline Islamists said they had taken over the south-central town of Baidoa, home to Somalia’s parliament, after Ethiopian troops pulled out at the weekend.”
Opinion
Quiet, factual and effective
Andrew Billen
“This was not a time for Geldofian threats, to give or else. Quiet, factual, unhistrionic – last night’s Disasters Emergency Committee’s appeal was all the more effective for those qualities.”
The corporation’s position on the Gaza appeal is indefensible
Sunny Hundal
“The BBC is defending – in one of the most shocking examples of moral blindness in recent times – its decision not to broadcast a humanitarian appeal by the Disaster Emergency Committee to save people in Gaza.”
Letters
Charity appeal abuse
John M. Collins
“Sir, Congratulations to The Times. Your leading article (Jan 26) argues that the BBC was mistaken in refusing to broadcast the appeal for relief for Gaza, and Andrew Roberts (Opinion, Jan 26) demonstrates why the BBC’s decision is brave and right.”
Arts
Shocking truths from behind the veil
Joanna Pitman
“The new Saatchi Gallery’s latest show exposes the Middle East with raw and provocative energy.”