The BBC’s refusal to broadcast the DEC Gaza appeal has not only shown its own bias when it comes to the Middle East conflict, but there is a bigger tragedy in this saga.
The biggest casualty is that others are following suit. The British Red Cross, one of the largest UK charities and a DEC member, has sadly fallen into this trap. The BRC appeal states: ‘the British Red Cross has launched an appeal in response to the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza and Israel.’
What? Instead of trying to find words to describe this political correctness gone-mad, I thought I’d share the words of Isabel Phillips. She (hope she is Jewish) points out in a letter to the Guardian:
‘It is not their (BRC) job to appear politically balanced, it is their job to respond to humanitarian need…The relatively few Israelis who have been injured have access to some of the best medical care in the world and a government in a position to rehouse them immediately. Striving to achieve balance in humanitarian aid to the detriment of need would be a grave development…’
I’m sure the BBC is not full of pro-Israelis, but the certainty in this is the BBC’s fear of the Israeli wrath. The BBC has lead the way in demonstrating its impartiality and neutrality by ensuring adequate airtime for pro-Israelis, and a little bit more, just to keep them off their backs. Now it seems others feel obliged to follow – even relief agencies.
Apart from continuing our efforts to persuade the BBC to reconsider (Complaints: 03700 100 222 / email) - it’s imperative we remind the BRC, the words of the good lady above. The BRC is a relief organisation, it must not engage with the sinister game that the Israelis are playing. BRC Complaints: 0844 412 2804 /information@redcross.org.uk.
Israel and its supporters should not be allowed to Americanise our discourse. Criticism of Israel must never become the ultimate taboo and evil.
Speaking of taboos, if you find the time, please drop Ben Bradshaw MP (Health Minister and former BBC reporter) an email to congratulate him. It’s surely a miracle that a minister can use the ‘I’ word in the negative:
“…this nervousness about being biased – I am afraid the BBC has to stand up to the Israeli authorities occasionally.”
Read the link, its no surprise that the bbc has done this:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/pandora/bbc-chief-holds-peace-talks-in-jerusalem-with-ariel-sharon-517400.html
DG of bbc is pro-israeli and his wife is a jew…………..need I say more
Hadn’t realised the Israeli government were BBC license fee payers.
Here I am, poor sod thinking the BBC’s accountability was to UK license fee payers and its charter etc.
Should he not have declared a conflict of interest and let someone else make the decision in terms of the ME editorial line?
Can you believe it…the BBC is asking the public what their opinion is on the DEC appeal…as if a humanitarian appeal is synonymous with political bias!
vote now:
http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5959&edition=1&ttl=20090126001227
An interesting quote from the BBC comments forum:
I hope this is genius PR: refusing to show the ad has created more publicity than showing it would have, as well as endorsement of donations by Archbishops, politicians and other whotnots.
*And* the Israelis look utterly cynical by objecting to it!
Well done the beeb!
Joe Mellon, Lod�ve, France
Here’s the response I got from the BRC:
“This appeal supports the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement emergency
relief and medical operation in the region.
In Gaza, Palestine Red Crescent hospitals, medical teams and ambulances
are responding to the needs of people around the clock. The
International Committee of the Red Cross has a surgical team in Gaza
helping local doctors treat patients and perform operations.
In Israel, the Magen David Adom (National Society of Israel) is on high
alert and is providing first aid and ambulance services to evacuate
people injured by rockets and missiles in Ashdod, Ashkelon and Sderot
and in nearby villages.
It has also opened a clinic on the Israeli side of the border, close to
the Erez Check Point, to provide medical care to inhabitants of Gaza
injured during the recent hostilities.
The Red Cross Movement acts with strict adherence to Fundamental
Principles which include neutrality and impartiality – our sole focus is
on providing humanitarian assistance to those in need. Political
affiliation, religion, nationality or ethnicity play no role whatsoever
in deciding who receives Red Cross aid.
There is an important, established and accepted role for neutral and
impartial humanitarian action.
The British Red Cross is in contact with the MDA in Israel but to date,
they have not requested any additional financial support. However, as
the situation changes, and in the event that the MDA requests
assistance, we would of course consider a request for help.
Regards,
Information Resources
Many thanks,
Information Resources
British Red Cross
http://www.redcross.org.uk”
Apart from being ambiguos, they failed to address my main problem which was with their statement regarding the appeal they’ve launched in resposne ‘to the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza and Israel.’ Even in their reply, they agree that they are not involved in delivering aid to Israel, the MDA is, but if they were asked, they would respond.
Did anyone else receive the same response, and is it worth chasing up any further further?
It amazes me to see again and again how institutions, companies and even states put their own intersts, reputations and credibility on the line in order to serve the Zionist state!
I’m suspending my Sky sports package for a month and donating the proceeds to DEC. I will also make it clear to the call center as to why I’m canceling the the Sports package.
Well done TS!
The BBC was criticised for being biased towards the Palestinians during the recent conflict. That’s why they decided it was impolitic to support the DEC appeal.
It’s no good you just jumping on this because you think there’s something anti-Islamic going on.
The BBC has nothing to do with any Israeli agenda either, so forget getting on that point either.
The Israel/Hamas situation has created political difficulties in British society. The BBC has no place being seen to take sides.
Good for them to refuse the airing.
If this comment is deleted, it will prove that this is a closed forum of mutual appreciation within a closed community.
Your closed community status and intent is what has gotten Mr Azad Ali into trouble with his employer.
So: would you like to engage in debate with someone who perhaps disagrees with you but is your countryman?
Perhaps some bloggers should go some way back in history to determine how far off-track this Israel/Hamas ’situation’ has gone – perhaps even further back than Hebron (1929) when 64 to 67 Jews were killed and many others wounded because of a false report that stirred up ancient hatred that had nothing to do with facts of history. Babies were beheaded. Old rabbis were castrated. There were incidents of rape, torture and mutilation. Hands and fingers were torn off bodies, apparently for jewellery. Jewish policeman shot at the Arab rioters and killed 8 of them but it appears that the local Arab policemen only fired in the air. Reinforcements arrived late – about five hours later. The British had a total of 292 police in Palestine and were presumably busy dealing with disturbances elsewhere. (Bernard Wasserstein, The British in Palestine: The Mandatory Government and the Arab-Jewish Conflict 1917-1929, Oxford England, Basil Blackwell, 1991)
Relationships were very different then, for about 435 Jews survived by hiding with their Arab neighbours. They were hidden by 28 families who risked their lives to save the Jews. About noon, British reinforcements arrived. Arab prisoners were forced to bury the dead in mass graves. Apparently they stirred up further trouble when they started singing in celebration during the burials! The surviving Jews were evacuated by the British, but some returned and lived in Hebron until further riots drove them out in 1936.
Some believe that ‘what goes around comes around’, but this is being deliberately ignorant and disingenuous!