BBC anti-Israel bias is a myth

[Horses]

The broadcaster favours Israeli over Palestinian sources in its news reports – as does al-Jazeera, a new study shows

I am always baffled at the ferocity and frequency of accusations that the BBC's Middle East coverage is anti-Israel. I have yet to see convincing, thorough, statistical evidence that this is the case.

When it comes to the secret report on Middle East coverage by the BBC's Malcolm Balen, just about every article I have read in the mainstream British press assumes that it shows an anti-Israel bias by the corporation – despite the fact that no one has read it. I guess if you make an accusation often enough, not matter how baseless, it eventually sticks.

A study (pdf) I wrote, published by Arab Media Watch on 10 June 2009, confirms that the BBC's coverage favours Israel. This comes as no surprise, as its findings echo those of numerous previous studies by AMW, universities and others, including the major, independent impartiality review commissioned by the BBC a few years ago.

more at: BBC anti-Israel bias is a myth | Sharif Nashashibi | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk

[Mr.De-Regulation]

In fairness to the BBC. Thye have a policy in not calling hamas terrorists nor freedom fighters. They only seem biased when they interview politicians.

[reknaw]

I am always baffled at the ferocity and frequency of accusations that the BBC's Middle East coverage is anti-Israel. I have yet to see convincing, thorough, statistical evidence that this is the case.

These accusations come from a huge pro-Israel lobby with an exaggerated sense of victimhood and a belief - akin to that of the worst headbashing religious fundamentalists - that God wants millions of Russians, Kazakhs, Ukrainians and a horde of other nationalities to move to Palestine and settle on the land where the Palestinians have been living for more or less ever.

In their view, nothing that Israel does can be wrong and every brutality can be denied or excused.

It's the holocaust déja vu - all over again.

[Horses]

The BBC has spent thousands of pounds of licence payers' money trying to block the release of a report which is believed to be highly critical of its Middle East coverage.

Balen Report - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia