That predictably biased UN report that criticises Israel and calls for war crimes investigations, and generally condemns Israel for existing, has stirred up relatively dormant Middle East issues again.
Laura Trevelyan’s reports on News 24 even sounded balanced in comparison. She pointed out that Israel has said the UN report was hugely biased and didn’t represent the evidence that was given to them, but merely reflected Hamas’s account of events in Gaza.
From her report alone, one might almost think anti-Israel bias was easing up at the Beeb. This was a momentary blip.
The report on the web reverts back to normal, and a few moments ago News 24 interviewed Ehud Barak, after a short emotive film clip from Katya Adler, and a subliminal flash of Ban Ki Moon.
The Beeboid made no attempt to conceal his contempt for Mr Barak and his Broken-English attempts to explain Israel’s situation. Something made Beeboid believe it was his job, as interrogator, to pass judgment on Israel’s morality, rather the immorality of fighting a terrorist organisation that had been sending rockets into Israel for eight years, then continued doing so from behind civilians the moment Israel decided it had had enough and retaliated.
What the BBC doesn’t get about Hamas and its hudna, but ‘Jihadwatch’ does:
‘Jihadwatch’ –
“Hamas offers Israel 10-year truce, so that it can destroy the Jewish State in 2019”
[Extract]:
“Here is yet another example of how Western analysts miss the significance of what Islamic leaders are saying because they don’t know Islamic doctrine and don’t understand how important it is to the jihadists. The very fact that the leader of Hamas is offering a ten-year truce indicates that he hasn’t changed a bit, and will never accept the existence of Israel. He will only use such a truce, if it is concluded, to work toward the total destruction of Israel.
“‘If Muslims are weak, a truce may be made for ten years if necessary, for the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) made a truce with the Quraysh for that long, as is related by Abu Dawud’ (‘Umdat al-Salik, o9.16).”
For a non-Hamas, non-BBC view:
Pamela Geller (of Dec. 2008): type in –
‘atlas shrugs: Halleluyah’
Open-minded listeners will surely want to contemplate this item next Monday evening (11.5.09). Sir David is one of the fairest observers of Middle East affairs, and to its credit the Radio Times has given his programme an impeccably neutral write up:
———————–
The Wall: An Essay by David Hare
David Hare, one of Britain’s foremost playwrights, provides a personal view of the physical, political and psychological impact of the combination of trenches, ditches, watchtowers, checkpoints, concrete and razor coil that may one day form a border between Israel and Palestine.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00kjb73
PS: please can you make the comments box adjustable, like it used to be? Thanks.
Sorry – should have said it’s on R4 next Monday at 8.30.
A UN report about UN buildings – and who exactly in the UN put this report together? Was it Libya (who is/was in charge of Human Rights at the UN) – all the BBC gives us is that it was a UN report – and because its from the UN it is true, not to be questioned by anyone. The UN is a corrupt organization who seem to take the side of terrorists every time.
It is laughable that BBC employees run around claiming that the UN is ‘The world’s highest moral authority’. Of course views like this are propounded by such swivel-eyed lunatics and crypto communists, always on a BBC sofa, as Wedgewood Benn. Now ther’s a real war hero if ever there was one. Loves to come on the BBC and pretend he was flying over Nazi Germany when all the while he was pootling around the skys over Rhodesia and South Africa.
John Bolton had it right. The BBC, as ever, and stuffed full of luvvies, is totally wrong.
Benn is a fascist. Always has been. And a cowardly one. And a liar. And an antisemite. No wonder the deranged BBC loves him.
The beeboid that attac … err … “interviewed” (stops to vomit) Barak doesn’t even understand the difference between shelling a school and shelling the vicinity of a school. Barak stated that Israel shelled near the school. The F**** beeboid kept claiming that Israel shelled the school.
Al Beeb: we lie. That’s what we do.
“The U.N.-appointed team was led by veteran diplomat Ian Martin. The report has no legal weight, and its recommendations are not binding. “
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/may/06/un-seeks-israeli-reparations/
“Several diplomats have reported that the commission would be led by the former British secretary-general of human rights group Amnesty International, Ian Martin.”
http://www.ceia-sc.org/page37/page74/page74.html
So this team was “independent”?
BBC World Service turns to another "specialist in Middle east legal matters" – Prof Iain Scobbie.
Surprise surprise – he condemns Israel. So – let's check him ou a bit on Google……….
I assume that is the same Iain Scobbie who sat with a bunch of other lawyers at an Arab-backed conference "Alliance for Freedom and Dignity" and condemned the entire Gaza operation :
http://www.irna.ir/View/FullStory/?NewsId=466919&IdLanguage=3
Other "lawyers" at that conference seemed a total bunch of nutters – eg the Spanish guy trying to bring xcharges against George Bush.
…….
This is the insidious BBC pattern. They choose "experts" who subscribe to the classic BBC views – not experts who will give a balanced view on both sides of the argument. I do not believe BBC producers EVER talk to lawyers who take Israel's side on some of these UN issues, their Rolodexes contain names only of pro-Palestinians. In this case, Scobbie gets a nice little fee and some kudos – and the BBC stacks the discussion against Israel.
I saw Snow playing his usual outraged self on Channel 4 last night. What a mistake that was…BUT at least Im not forced to fund Channel 4!
Reminded me of why Channel 4 is banned in my house (I had to take myself outside for disciplining for breaking the ban!:)
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