News
BBC report: Mistakes in Israel coverage
Ynet
Published: 16.04.09, 19:25
Comment Comment
Print comment Print comment
Back to article
39 Talkbacks for this article
1. inacurate
colin   (04.16.09)
Jeremy Bowen does not report inaacurate information. His writeings are outright lies,falsehoods twisted truths and biased anti semetic anti Israel print. The BBC knows his attitude but condones this bullshit. Israel should kick them out and ban the future entry.
2. Bowen regularly gives disinformation
Israeli/Brit   (04.16.09)
I have written many times over the years to BBC editors pointing out facts where Bowen published prejudice and re-cycled Arab propaganda. No replies received, naturally. Its long overdue for the BBC, a public corporation to clean up its act. No surprise that anti-Jewish/Israeli behaviour is increasing all the time in the UK. The distorted reporting from Gaza this winter is a case in point. You dont have to agree with Israeli actions to publish ascertainable facts of the campaign.
3. BBC Bias?
Milton Pincus ,   Kfar Saba, Israel   (04.16.09)
A committee found the BBC's coverage biased against Israel? My god, what next: Gambling in Casablanca?
4. Not to worry: BBC has NO CREDIBILITY to lose!
The Doc ,   Haifa, Israel   (04.16.09)
...so the Islamo-Leftists, Terror Apologists, Anarchists and Holocaust Deniers populating its ranks need not to worry: there is NOTHIG BBC can do to regain its credibility short of firing all of the editors and journalists there and applying civilized and Western standards for hiring new ones. BBC is now a malicious, racist, open and blatant propaganda tool for the extreme Left and Islamic Jihad so nobody has any expectations from it - certainly not more than one would have from the hate and racist propaganda material coming from Al Jazeera.
5. mistakes = making bias so overtly obvious
mike ,   israel (formerly usa   (04.16.09)
as long as the bias is run-of-the-mill and not out of the ordinary, it is standard. to get caught being so blatant, that's not good.
6. This will make no doubt make front-page headlines...
Joe ,   Ramat Gan   (04.16.09)
... NOT!
7. The hell you say!
Neil ,   USA   (04.16.09)
Next you'll be telling me the pope is Catholic.
8. Doh! They just figured this out.
D   (04.16.09)
9. BBC anti-Israel bias is a by-word.
The 11th Man ,   London   (04.16.09)
These people have forgotten how to report news unbiasedly. A few years ago they decided to publish their opinions instead of news. That was when I relieved my family of the burden of a television. Israel, you're OK.
10. Who said Zionist Media?
Dani ,   Israel   (04.16.09)
11. No mistake
Frank ,   Canada   (04.16.09)
BBC deliberate disinformation, bias and anti-Israeli propaganda is portrayed as mistakes. This is unacceptable.
12. At least the BBC reported
maasanova ,   Houston   (04.16.09)
In America, we were told that Israel broke the cease fire, which is a fact, but then a complete media blackout.
13. Jeremy Bown is not the only one!
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (04.16.09)
While the BBC is notoriously biased against Israel they are no worse than SkyNews and CNN! SkyNews' Dominic Waghorn and CNN's Ben Wiedeman never miss an opportunity to malign Israel even though their "information" is without any real basis and very often proven to be false. The international news media know only too well that Israel cannot counter their propaganda as none of them are prepared to screen Israeli replies to their allegations or they cut them short. They work on the basis that bad Israeli press is news, satisfies their Arab patrons and shareholders and that even if they do libel Israel no one is really interested in the truth when it comes out. FOXNews Channel on the other hand is so busy bashing Obama these days that they don't have time to report on much else and when they do report on the Israel Arab "conflict' they are less biased until Rupert Murdoch gets a call from Prince Waleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia which immediately changes the pro-Israel attitude to one of less objectivity. Many have called for Israel to launch a 24 hour day foreign language news channel and while the concept is good you cannot force international viewers to watch it when the anti-Israel BBC, SkyNews and CNN networks are giving them what they want to see and hear - bad Israel - good Arabs!
14. al-BBC bowed down to their Islamic overlords long ago...
England Eats It ,   Big Time, Everywhere   (04.17.09)
...no sense in trying to fight it. British men often find themselves attracted to Arab men -it's called Lawrence of Arabia Syndrome. The BBC just got caught up in the moment.
15. I Spoke With A Senior BBC Exec Based Outside Of The UK
Winston Churchill ,   Tel Aviv   (04.17.09)
I could be making this up - but I'm not. My wife I know this gentlemen quite well and he acnowledges a distinct anti-Israel bias within the BBC which is part of a larger bias towards the left and against the mainstream.
16. Biased reporting by the BBC
Spencer ,   Israel   (04.17.09)
Really! That's not news. This second rate news service, yes, the BBC is a second rate news service, has always been known for it's anti Israel bias. Their newscasts are NOT inaccurate, they are blantantly untruthful!
17. The Beeb doesn't like the Heeb! What else is new?
Doron ,   Israel   (04.17.09)
18. BBC
Joan, NZ ,   Auckland, NZ   (04.17.09)
BBC has been very, very anti Israel for many years. The after midnight television news was particularly offensive - A woman named Orla said all she could to make sure the Palestinians got much sympathy from many who were totally unaware of the truth. Of course UK's BBC 's reporting could be trusted could it not ? Indeed no, the bias against Israel caused much anger and many who knew the truth complained.
19. My thoughts exactly, Doc # 4.(End)
EST ,   Miami USA   (04.17.09)
20. BBC never was credible
Danny   (04.17.09)
21. #12, what ceasefire?
Danny   (04.17.09)
The palestinians never stopped firing out of Gaza.
22. this was posted a couple months ago ..its so right ....
rachel ,   usa   (04.17.09)
BBC gets it right for once The BBC got it right here, but probably for the wrong reasons. Very funny ! See below for the usual BBC / Channel 4 / Sky News guidelines for Israel…. 1. always accept the Palestinian version without question 2. interview at least 8 Palestinian supporters to every Israeli supporter 3. assume the UN is impartial, and a shining beacon of justice in a dark world 4. assume any video / photos provided by Palestinians are always reliable - never question their veracity. It’s probably not worth bothering viewers with the fact that much of the media is doctored or staged – this will only confuse them 5. gloss over the last 60 years of history (never mention how 6 Arab armies tried to destroy Israel in ‘48, ‘67, and ‘73) 6. don’t report how Hamas (etc) bully, torture and murder their own people, or misappropriate aid/finance (or if you do, play it down) 7. NEVER mention that Iran / Hamas / Fatah have vowed to destroy Israel and kill every Jew in the world (if you do mention it, assume they don’t really mean it) 8. Report only the words that Fatah say in English, never what they say in Arabic 9. if you interview an Israeli (or misguided supporter such as Colonel Kemp, Mark Regev), make sure you interrupt them frequently. If you’re coming off second best, tell them you’re running out of time 10. if interviewing a Palestinian (or Annie Lennox, Alexei Sayle), make sure you ask them lots of really open questions, allowing lots of time to air their views without interruption - nod frequently to show your support. Don’t interrupt them, as this is disrespectful 11. above all, the tone of your voice should exhibit disapproval towards Israel, and sympathy towards Palestinians 12. ensure you use the word “occupation” as much as you can (don’t get involved in meaningless discussions concerning how Israel either paid huge sums for swamps / wilderness in ‘48, or won it when arabs declared war on them) 13. never report anti-semitic attacks/incidents from the UK or elsewhere (we are unsure as to why these are increasing, but certain it has nothing to do with how we are portraying the situation) 14. don’t report Pro-Israel activity such as marches – nobody cares, and these people are misguided anyway. If the politicians from all parties turn a blind eye, why shouldn’t we ? 15. if you get the facts wrong (Israel murders 1000’s in Bethlehem), never issue an apology or retraction 16. It is probably more news-worthy if you paint Israel as the aggressor – so don’t mention that Hamas launched over 6,000 rockets into Israel after Israel had vacated the Gaza strip 17. On proportionality, probably not worth mentioning comparisons with civilian casualties in Iraq, Afghanistan, or WW2 Germany (this will only confuse people). The fact that Hamas deliberately booby-trapped civilian homes and made people go into them, we are sure, has nothing to do with civilian casualties…. 15. probably not worth mentioning the Bible – Jesus, a Jew, born in Bethlehem, visiting the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem (this is only 2000 years of history anyway….) Note to Producers – make sure that when interviews are taking place that you loop some video showing ultra-left wing Norwegian doctors running after ambulances performing chest compression on live patients, and female Hamas supporters screaming uncontrollably about how their terrorist husbands were mercilessly martyred by the IDF. Remember, it really doesn’t matter what the interview says because people will remember the images Neil Turner , Watford, UK (01.24.09)
23. BBC, Bias? No, you must be kidding!!! :)
Shua K ,   NY   (04.17.09)
24. BBC stands for Biased Broadcasting Corporation
Eric ,   Toledo USA   (04.17.09)
BBC has always been loyal to the Palestinians and Muslims. Reporting anti-Semitic or anti-Israeli sentiment means ratings back at home in the United Arab Kingdom.
25. I'm shocked, just shocked!
Mike Jefferson ,   Washington, D.C.   (04.17.09)
Not. The BBC is decidedly anti-Israel and pro-Arab. What does this acknowledgement reveal? The obvious?
26. #12 masanava...THERE IS DECADES OF ANTI-ISRAEL BIAS !
AVRUM ,   CANADA   (04.17.09)
MASSANOVA STATES THAT AT LEAST THE BBC DID PERFORM SOME REPORTING. MASSANOVA IS REFERRING ONLY TO RECENT EVENTS. "In America, we were told that Israel broke the cease fire, which is a fact, but then a complete media blackout." THE BBC HAS BEEN GUILTY OF ANTI-ISRAEL REPORTING FOR OVER 25 YEARS..... AT LEAST ! WAKE UP MASSANOVA OR IS IT HUSSAIN-OVA !!
27. BBC = Bribed British Correspondents
ME   (04.17.09)
28. Bright Picture Of The BBC.
Maansingh ,   The Netherlands   (04.17.09)
Quote :”.. many sources within the BBC had expressed anger at the committee (i.e. the BBC's Trust Editorial Standards Committee), ..” SO, many within the BBC are angry that the inaccuracies, outright lies and half truths (related to Israel) introduced by Jeremy Bowen, cooked by Jeremy Bowen -- is being finger-pointed at by the Trust Committee. THIS means that many within the BBC would like to see the continuation of the inaccuracies, outright lies and half truths (related to Israel) by Jeremy Bowen. THIS means that Jeremy Bowen has a VERY strong support-base within the BBC. SO, this last conclusion doesn’t give a bright picture of the BBC.
29. Demonizing and delegitimizing Israel.
Robert Bernier ,   Tel Aviv   (04.17.09)
Those who demonize and delegitimize Israel, who say the world would be better off without it, who hold it to standards of perfection no other country is held to, who extol or commiserate with its mortal enemies, who liken it to Nazi Germany and apartheid South Africa, who make it the scapegoat not only for crimes it hasn't committed, but for those of which it is a victim — yes, such people are anti-Semitic, whether they acknowledge it or not. Islam is preaching anti-Semitisn – it did not creat it. More at : http://xrl.us/kw6hh
30. Good for the committee! At least someone @ BBC ...
Zvi   (04.17.09)
... sees something.
Next talkbacks
Back to article