BBC
Today Programme
Bias Extraordinaire
I submitted a complaint to the BBC two days
ago about the following, 3 minute rant by John Humphries on the Today
programme, the flagship news programme on BBC Radio 4.
ago about the following, 3 minute rant by John Humphries on the Today
programme, the flagship news programme on BBC Radio 4.
The level of prejudice and ignorance is
quite simply amazing. Below is a
transcript of the broadcast and here are some of my comments and my appeal,
which was word restricted at the end. My
complaint was rejected with a standard pro-forma response so I have submitted
an appeal. The BBC appeal process is designed
to wear you down with its may stages and pedantic responses.
quite simply amazing. Below is a
transcript of the broadcast and here are some of my comments and my appeal,
which was word restricted at the end. My
complaint was rejected with a standard pro-forma response so I have submitted
an appeal. The BBC appeal process is designed
to wear you down with its may stages and pedantic responses.
 |
| The BBC spent hundreds of thousands of pounds suppressing the Balen Report which was commissioned by the BBC and which showed institutional bias against the Palestinians |
Here is a short critique:
i.
The number of dead is about
50. However over 40 of them were Palestinians
whereas Humphries says it is only Israelis who have suffered casualties.
The number of dead is about
50. However over 40 of them were Palestinians
whereas Humphries says it is only Israelis who have suffered casualties.
ii.
There is no mention of the
death by lynching the previous night of an Eritrean refugee, or the death of
Fadi Alloun having been chased by a lynch mob in Jerusalem was executed by the
Police.
There is no mention of the
death by lynching the previous night of an Eritrean refugee, or the death of
Fadi Alloun having been chased by a lynch mob in Jerusalem was executed by the
Police.
 |
| Mark Thompson – BBC Director General refuses to allow the Disasters Emergency Committee Appeal to be broadcast on BBC Television after Israel’s bombardment of Gaza killing 1,400 people. However they showed the appeal in the background. Tony Benn accused them of deliberately killing people. |
iii.
No mention of the execution of an
18 year old Palestinian student, Hadeel Hashlamon, in Hebron by Israeli soldiers. She was literally frozen in fear by them
barking at her, made no move at them (despite lies about a knife) and was mowed
down by fully armed soldiers. here and here
No mention of the execution of an
18 year old Palestinian student, Hadeel Hashlamon, in Hebron by Israeli soldiers. She was literally frozen in fear by them
barking at her, made no move at them (despite lies about a knife) and was mowed
down by fully armed soldiers. here and here
 |
| The BBC lives off the license fee but answers to Israel |
iv.
There is a continuing murder spree by the Israeli Occupation Forces including two children Israeli Forces
Kill 5 Palestinians, Including 2 Children, Bashar Nizam Jamil al-Ja’abari (15)
and his cousin Hussam Isma’il Jamil al-Ja’abari (17), which the BBC has failed to cover.
There is a continuing murder spree by the Israeli Occupation Forces including two children Israeli Forces
Kill 5 Palestinians, Including 2 Children, Bashar Nizam Jamil al-Ja’abari (15)
and his cousin Hussam Isma’il Jamil al-Ja’abari (17), which the BBC has failed to cover.
v.
There is mention of ‘a wave of
stabbing attacks in Hebron &
Jerusalem’. No mention of the violence of the settlers in Hebron, the Israeli army
killings in Hebron, the history of settler violence in Hebron (so well
documented that even the BBC must occasionally have noted, e.g. the Baruch Goldstein killings which led to the
division of the Ibrahimi Mosque – yes that’s right – the Palestinians were
punished for 29 of them having been killed!
The daubing of ‘Arabs to the gas chambers’ on the walls of Palestinian homes. No background at all to the most viciously
racist and violent settlers of all on the West
Bank or the closing down of the Palestinian centre of Hebrwon and
Shehuda street to accommodate these messianic Zionists.
There is mention of ‘a wave of
stabbing attacks in Hebron &
Jerusalem’. No mention of the violence of the settlers in Hebron, the Israeli army
killings in Hebron, the history of settler violence in Hebron (so well
documented that even the BBC must occasionally have noted, e.g. the Baruch Goldstein killings which led to the
division of the Ibrahimi Mosque – yes that’s right – the Palestinians were
punished for 29 of them having been killed!
The daubing of ‘Arabs to the gas chambers’ on the walls of Palestinian homes. No background at all to the most viciously
racist and violent settlers of all on the West
Bank or the closing down of the Palestinian centre of Hebrwon and
Shehuda street to accommodate these messianic Zionists.
 |
| Brighton PSC picket of BBC Radio Sussex |
vi.
Connolly, who would frankly
be better reporting on the Cruft’s dog show in Britain than the Middle East states
that ‘The Israeli government frankly is
casting about for a convincing answer because the nature of the acts of
violence still appears to be random and spontaneous. The decisions of individuals at a given
moment to stage an attack are not the work of organised extremist groups. For
that reason it’s been very tough to formulate a convincing security answer’. Well one answer could be an end to the
Occupation. Another could be the arrest
of those who set fire to the Dawabsheh family in Duma in July, murdering 3 out
of 4 members of the family, including an 18 month old infant. Moshe Yalon, the Defence Minister has
admitted that the security forces know who the killers are but that they have
to ‘ protect sources’.
Connolly, who would frankly
be better reporting on the Cruft’s dog show in Britain than the Middle East states
that ‘The Israeli government frankly is
casting about for a convincing answer because the nature of the acts of
violence still appears to be random and spontaneous. The decisions of individuals at a given
moment to stage an attack are not the work of organised extremist groups. For
that reason it’s been very tough to formulate a convincing security answer’. Well one answer could be an end to the
Occupation. Another could be the arrest
of those who set fire to the Dawabsheh family in Duma in July, murdering 3 out
of 4 members of the family, including an 18 month old infant. Moshe Yalon, the Defence Minister has
admitted that the security forces know who the killers are but that they have
to ‘ protect sources’.
 |
| The BBC has consistently refused to cover the imprisonment of Palestinian prisoners – nor has it covered why Israeli killers of Palestinians rarely if ever get sent to gaol |
vii.
Perhaps the Israeli Occupation
Forces could demolish the homes of settlers who murder Palestinians, since they
do that to Palestinians who kill settlers?
Or maybe he could ask why they don’t do this or raid settlements where
the killers emerge from? Or is it too
much for the BBC to ever question the normative, the ongoing occupation that is
the daily life of Palestinians? If he
was being really bold Connolly might question what it is that makes Israeli Palestinians
also kill Israeli Jews and could it have something to do with the fact that
they are guests, outsiders in the Jewish state?
Perhaps the Israeli Occupation
Forces could demolish the homes of settlers who murder Palestinians, since they
do that to Palestinians who kill settlers?
Or maybe he could ask why they don’t do this or raid settlements where
the killers emerge from? Or is it too
much for the BBC to ever question the normative, the ongoing occupation that is
the daily life of Palestinians? If he
was being really bold Connolly might question what it is that makes Israeli Palestinians
also kill Israeli Jews and could it have something to do with the fact that
they are guests, outsiders in the Jewish state?
viii.
John Humphreys demonstrates his
ignorance by first asking whether it is intifada or not and then going on to
say that ‘There is talk of more powers for the Police to stop and search but
that seems to be fairly inadequate in a way doesn’t it?’ Perhaps the lynchings that have been taking
place, the abuse of a bleeding child on the walkway, telling him to die, is
more to Humphries liking?
John Humphreys demonstrates his
ignorance by first asking whether it is intifada or not and then going on to
say that ‘There is talk of more powers for the Police to stop and search but
that seems to be fairly inadequate in a way doesn’t it?’ Perhaps the lynchings that have been taking
place, the abuse of a bleeding child on the walkway, telling him to die, is
more to Humphries liking?
 |
| Proteset at BBC HQ in London |
ix.
And then there is the classic ‘the fact that individuals are taking the
decision to stage these attacks for reasons which we are often left to guess
at. Because the attackers often die in
the course of the attack.’ Yes it must
be hard, if you only watch or listen to the BBC to work out what the reasons
for the violence are. Nothing to do with
racism, occupation, settler violence, land confiscations and theft, water
deprivation, frustration, no hope.
Nope. None of these. Israel is a normal society with abnormal Palestinians. Simple really isn’t it?
And then there is the classic ‘the fact that individuals are taking the
decision to stage these attacks for reasons which we are often left to guess
at. Because the attackers often die in
the course of the attack.’ Yes it must
be hard, if you only watch or listen to the BBC to work out what the reasons
for the violence are. Nothing to do with
racism, occupation, settler violence, land confiscations and theft, water
deprivation, frustration, no hope.
Nope. None of these. Israel is a normal society with abnormal Palestinians. Simple really isn’t it?
Transcript
20.10.15. Today Programme 6.39 a.m.
Humphries
– 21 minutes to 7 – Yet another attack on Israelis
last night. This time an Arab man with a
gun and a knife killed a soldier & wounded 10 people. The number is mounting, it’s about 50 now
isn’t it?
– 21 minutes to 7 – Yet another attack on Israelis
last night. This time an Arab man with a
gun and a knife killed a soldier & wounded 10 people. The number is mounting, it’s about 50 now
isn’t it?
Kevin
Connolly: We think about 50 in the past month. Sharp uptake of violence – Not just that
attack in Beer Sheba inside Israel itself.
On Saturday a wave of stabbing attacks in Hebron & Jerusalem. No
sign that this wave of rising tension & rising casualties is going to
abate. The Israeli government frankly is
casting about for a convincing answer because the nature of the acts of
violence still appears to be random and spontaneous. The decisions of individuals at a given
moment to stage an attack are not the work of organised extremist groups. For
that reason it’s been very tough to formulate a convincing security answer
Connolly: We think about 50 in the past month. Sharp uptake of violence – Not just that
attack in Beer Sheba inside Israel itself.
On Saturday a wave of stabbing attacks in Hebron & Jerusalem. No
sign that this wave of rising tension & rising casualties is going to
abate. The Israeli government frankly is
casting about for a convincing answer because the nature of the acts of
violence still appears to be random and spontaneous. The decisions of individuals at a given
moment to stage an attack are not the work of organised extremist groups. For
that reason it’s been very tough to formulate a convincing security answer
 |
| BBC refused to release their own report confirming anti-Palestinian bias |
Humphries
It is not Intifada is it?
It is not Intifada is it?
Kevin
Connolly: It’s a very difficult
question part of the problem is that media organisations begin asking that
question very early in these upsurges of violence. Whatever we call it, it’s an extraordinarily difficult
situation for the Israeli government to deal with because its own people look
to it for security. That very random and
spontaneous nature of the attack has left many Israeli citizens feeling that
any Palestinian passing them in the street might be carrying a knife, might be
planning to attack them and any passing car might at any moment be used as a
vehicle against Israeli civilian pedestrians. So although it’s not at all at
the level of critical mass of violence that you would need to use the word
Intifada, it doesn’t have the leadership perhaps that an Intifada might require
it has achieved an extraordinary change in the atmosphere of daily life here,
hence the political urgency for the Israeli government.
Connolly: It’s a very difficult
question part of the problem is that media organisations begin asking that
question very early in these upsurges of violence. Whatever we call it, it’s an extraordinarily difficult
situation for the Israeli government to deal with because its own people look
to it for security. That very random and
spontaneous nature of the attack has left many Israeli citizens feeling that
any Palestinian passing them in the street might be carrying a knife, might be
planning to attack them and any passing car might at any moment be used as a
vehicle against Israeli civilian pedestrians. So although it’s not at all at
the level of critical mass of violence that you would need to use the word
Intifada, it doesn’t have the leadership perhaps that an Intifada might require
it has achieved an extraordinary change in the atmosphere of daily life here,
hence the political urgency for the Israeli government.
Humphries:
There is talk of more powers for the Police to stop
and search but that seems to be fairly inadequate in a way doesn’t it?
There is talk of more powers for the Police to stop
and search but that seems to be fairly inadequate in a way doesn’t it?
Kevin
Connolly: I
think that is true. They are reviving a plan which existed a
few years ago to expand stop and search powers so the Police wouldn’t need
reasonable suspicion that a crime was being committed before they stopped and
searched somebody. I think that was actually originally formulated to deal with
a wave of night club stabbings. So they
have that on the books, they have erected a concrete screen between an Arab and
Jewish area of Jerusalem, not far from where I’m talking to you, that also has a
bit of an ad-hoc feeling to it and they also of course have armed
reinforcements in the West Bank. You have Police reinforcements here in
Jerusalem. So they are doing what they
can with visible security. But you can’t
get away from the fact that they are struggling with the nature of this upsurge
of violence. And that’s also a problem for the politicians. Because you will be having Benjamin Netanyahu
meeting John Kerry later this week. Probably
Kerry also meeting Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. So the big politics is beginning to kick in
here. But it’s hard to see where the
connecting wheels are between those big political meetings and the fact that
individuals are taking the decision to stage these attacks for reasons which we
are often left to guess at. Because the
attackers often die in the course of the attack.
Connolly: I
think that is true. They are reviving a plan which existed a
few years ago to expand stop and search powers so the Police wouldn’t need
reasonable suspicion that a crime was being committed before they stopped and
searched somebody. I think that was actually originally formulated to deal with
a wave of night club stabbings. So they
have that on the books, they have erected a concrete screen between an Arab and
Jewish area of Jerusalem, not far from where I’m talking to you, that also has a
bit of an ad-hoc feeling to it and they also of course have armed
reinforcements in the West Bank. You have Police reinforcements here in
Jerusalem. So they are doing what they
can with visible security. But you can’t
get away from the fact that they are struggling with the nature of this upsurge
of violence. And that’s also a problem for the politicians. Because you will be having Benjamin Netanyahu
meeting John Kerry later this week. Probably
Kerry also meeting Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. So the big politics is beginning to kick in
here. But it’s hard to see where the
connecting wheels are between those big political meetings and the fact that
individuals are taking the decision to stage these attacks for reasons which we
are often left to guess at. Because the
attackers often die in the course of the attack.
Humphries: Kevin, many
thanks.
thanks.
It’s 17 minutes to 7. 19th
October 2015
October 2015
Grounds
for Complaint by Tony Greenstein
for Complaint by Tony Greenstein
Humphries interview with Kevin Connolly re
violence in Israel. Mentions 50 dead but
not that 40 are Palestinians. No mention
mob violence against Palestinians or
murder of Fadi Alloun, chased by lynch mob, executed by Police. No
background to events eg firebombing of Dawabshe family in Duma. 3 dead.
No prosecutions – culprits known.
No mention that West Bank is Occupied.
No mention of ‘Death to Arabs’ marches in Jerusalem. And no mention of murder of Eritrean refugee
last night though other reporters picked it up.
All of these are documented by video footage Connolly doesn’t report.
violence in Israel. Mentions 50 dead but
not that 40 are Palestinians. No mention
mob violence against Palestinians or
murder of Fadi Alloun, chased by lynch mob, executed by Police. No
background to events eg firebombing of Dawabshe family in Duma. 3 dead.
No prosecutions – culprits known.
No mention that West Bank is Occupied.
No mention of ‘Death to Arabs’ marches in Jerusalem. And no mention of murder of Eritrean refugee
last night though other reporters picked it up.
All of these are documented by video footage Connolly doesn’t report.
Connolly says ‘individuals are taking the
decision to stage these attacks for reasons which we are often left to guess
at.’ Let me see, what might be the
reasons:
decision to stage these attacks for reasons which we are often left to guess
at.’ Let me see, what might be the
reasons:
i.
An occupation for 48 years.
ii. settler violence that is
abetted by Military. iii. That this is not a question of law and order
but one where the law is in the hands of one party which deprives the other
party of basic human rights. iv. Israel is in breach of perpetual breach of
international law. vi. The attack by
Police on the Al Aqsa mosque and the Temple Mount Institute and similar
messianic groups which openly call for the Mosque’s demolition, its replacement
by 3rd Temple. Groups r funded by
Israeli gov. Connolly mentioned Hebron,
where violent settlers repeatedly attack Palestinian civilians. No mention of death of Hadeek al-Hashlamon
last month killed by army.
An occupation for 48 years.
ii. settler violence that is
abetted by Military. iii. That this is not a question of law and order
but one where the law is in the hands of one party which deprives the other
party of basic human rights. iv. Israel is in breach of perpetual breach of
international law. vi. The attack by
Police on the Al Aqsa mosque and the Temple Mount Institute and similar
messianic groups which openly call for the Mosque’s demolition, its replacement
by 3rd Temple. Groups r funded by
Israeli gov. Connolly mentioned Hebron,
where violent settlers repeatedly attack Palestinian civilians. No mention of death of Hadeek al-Hashlamon
last month killed by army.
In other words a complete lack of context
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