, published in The Spectator, is about Alan Johnston, a BBC reporter who was kidnapped in Gaza until released, with the aid of Hamas, or so the media, including the BBC, have portrayed events.
Phillips outlines the web of interconnected groups. factions and individuals surrounding the kidnap of Johnston, pointing out:
But since Johnston was so close to Hamas it is naive to think that Dagmoush would have kidnapped him without receiving at least tacit approval from his powerful patron. And although Hamas said immediately it knew who was holding him, it did nothing for many weeks — although its closeness to the Army of Islam enabled it to stop them killing him.
It was Hamas which had everything to gain from the ordeal of Alan Johnston, its friend whom the BBC was about to transfer out of Gaza anyway — and its strategy has worked brilliantly. Not only did it open communication with Britain, but the idea of negotiating with Hamas is now gaining traction fast on both sides of the Atlantic.
Leading up to her stark and striking conclusion Phillips notes that:
Since Johnston’s release, the BBC seems to have turned itself into a vehicle for Hamas propaganda. Alastair Crooke has been given airtime granted to no other lobbyist, in interviews and one-off programmes giving him unprecedented opportunity to push his views.
This is the BBC whose other Gaza reporter Fayed abu Shamala reportedly told a Hamas rally in 2001 that the BBC was
‘waging the campaign of resistance/terror against Israel shoulder-to-shoulder together with the Palestinian people’; and whose Middle East bureau editor, Simon Wilson, has acknowledged that he met Hamas leaders in Gaza and Damascus to discuss Johnston’s fate — meetings about which the Foreign Office was closely consulted.
Do read the rest – see links above. Damian Thompson of the Daily Telegraph has also blogged about Phillips article, Was Alan Johnston a ‘friend’ of Hamas?.
Thank you to Edna for spotting spotting this first.
Given the choice between the conclusions of British intelligence which presumably informs minister’s statements on this and Mel P, a newspaper columnist whose views on matters Middle Eastern are somewhat hysterical to say the least, I’d go with the former.
Given the choice between believing the conclusions given
out to the public by British intelligence(who have to watch what they say) and the evidence given by MP,I know who I trust more.
If you really think that British intelligence always tells the truth about behind the scenes actions, especially regarding the ME, and particularly when negotiating the release of a BBC hostage, then you will be disappointed.
if the bbc is really the propaganda arm of hamas, why haven’t they covered the shooting of imad gharem?
Cockney:
If Melanie Phillips views on the middle east are hysterical, I’d say that’s a fair counter to the BBC who’s views are totally fanatical.
Alan Johnston has been out for over a month now – can anyone point me to a page where he repudiates his (coerced?) on-camera remarks made during his captivity?
Links?
Thanks in advance for any information.
Anonymous – Don’t hold your breath.
Anonymous,
Johnston apparently said soon after his release that he didn’t stand by everything that he’d said on video. As far as I know, he hasn’t gone into specifics and he hasn’t repudiated any of it.
If true, it’s up there at the top as one of the most powerful examples of BBC bias. Well, I suppose there’ll be a book. Maybe (a big maybe) Johnston will clarify it then.
Judging by the way the BBC has closed ranks around Johnston, we will never get the truth from the BBC itself.
I would take bets that Alan Johnston is busy writing his book right now. Maybe that’s why he has disappeared off the radar.
But I would also take bets that he will take the opportunity to eulogise the Palestinians/Gazans/Hamas and demonise the Israelis.
Then he’ll make a BBC documentary based on his book.
And make lots of dosh.
And make lots of dosh.
Edna | 07.08.07 – 9:17 am,
No doubt all those cloned Johnston supporters who commented on HYS while he was kidnapped that he was an unbiased journalist and friend of the Palestinians, will queue up with glazed eyes to buy the book, if he writes one.