(Spectator-UK) Stephen Daisley - If you get your news on the Middle East from the BBC, every so often Israel appears to go mad and begins lustily bombing Palestinian civilians. No rhyme or reason - simply pummeling Gaza for the hell of it. Under the BBC's approach to reporting on Israel, the story invariably begins when Israel responds to attacks, with those original attacks deemed insufficiently newsworthy. Thus, self-defense is cast as aggression. The BBC's approach is certainly not the result of a conspiracy. Its bias against Israel reflects institutional culture, the political attitudes of the sort of people who work in news and current affairs, and patterns and assumptions long embedded. Change is sorely needed. The BBC's flawed journalism makes a country trying to defend itself in a complex environment with very few options look like a bloodthirsty aggressor. At present, its coverage is sloppy, partial, hostile and distorting. Until it changes, the BBC's coverage of Israel and the Palestinians will only continue to discredit itself.
2023-05-11 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive