Ted Clement-Evans introduces a detailed and forensic-like analysis written by Richard Lightbown of the transcript of the BBC Panorama programme 'Death on the Med', broadcast on 16 August 2010, which reveals chronic bias and lack of impartiality on the part of the BBC.
Introduction by Ted Clement-Evans
An extraordinary document has been sent to the BBC – a carefully detailed and forensic-like analysis of the transcript of the Panorama programme “Death on the Med”, broadcast on 16 August 2010.
Below is an analysis of the bias and lack of impartiality exhibited in the programme which is now in the hand of the BBC.
The complaint vindicates all earlier complaints of bias on the part of the BBC. This bias is so consistent and now blatant as to make the BBC guilty of fraud and deception. It has beguiled the British public, its media and establishment into believing that there is not much wrong with the behaviour of the State of Israel that is not justified by the misbehaviour of Hamas.
Evidence of Israeli misbehaviour is so well documented but the fact that it passes largely unnoticed by the British public can only be attributed to the skill of Israeli propagandists, to a large extent aided and abetted by the BBC.
It is now time – at this crucial period in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict – that Israel be made to see that it is in its own best interest for there to be a fair and just solution. Presently, it can flout with impunity 65 UN resolutions, decisions of the International Court of Justice, the condemnation of every humanitarian organization that is involved with Palestine, and it can destroy neighbouring infrastructure, as in Lebanon and in Gaza, at will.
The Palestinian Authority initially wished to have Fundamental Principles established, such as an acceptance that a future Palestinian state should be based on the 1967 borders and an end to the expansion of illegal settlements, before they would enter into peace talks.
Israel refused and is now thrilled with the notion of direct negotiations, without preconditions, between occupier and occupied. Israel holds all the power and all the cards and it can dictate what it wants in “direct, bilateral negotiations”. The problem is how to get a modicum of Palestinian rights – the Quartet has even backed down on the simple demand of “suspending settlement activities”, itself a retreat from the road map which required dismantling of all that was built illegally since 2002.
With its present ascendancy Israel will ride roughshod over the Palestinian Authority – this will result in a peace which is neither fair nor just, if any at all. To rectify this the UK must assist in creating a level playing field, namely:
Analysis by Richard Lightbown
I missed the BBC Panorama programme on the flotilla raid (‘Death on the Med’, broadcast on 16 August) and forgot about it until I heard of the protests two days later. Since I have done a comprehensive review of media sources on the raid I thought I should have a look.
Reading the Panorama response I found a smug claim of a world-renowned journalist piecing together the real story for the first time using important new evidence. But looking at the videos on YouTube (courtesy of Anwar Benny) did not convince me that this was the case. There was no cross-examination, no analysis and no new evidence either. Witnesses were given a fairly free reign to say what they liked (before editing) and the Israeli soldiers (and General Giora Eiland in particular) had taken the opportunity to make strong allegations which were totally uncorroborated. Jane Corbin, the Panorama programme presenter, sat almost uncritically listening to all it.
Fairness and balance require more than pointing the camera and microphone at representatives of all sides and letting them say what they like. The BBC should also strive for accuracy. Within the narrow remit that this programme gave itself there was still a need to explain the context, which is the closure imposed on Gaza and its effects on the population along with the legality of the Israeli action. One cannot understand the flotilla raid without this. This of course does not mean that Panorama should try to provide a definitive opinion on the closure, but it should have outlined what the opposing opinions are. Only then can one understand the activist's response, and why so many international legal experts are critical of the Israeli action. This is the way to the truth that Panorama claimed to be telling. Its abject failure to do so prompted my complaint, [[anchor]] which the BBC should have received in the post on 27 August.
Richard Lightbown studied the impacts of the Rwandan civil war on four Ugandan forests for his Masters dissertation. He has been a volunteer in Gaza and the West Bank, and assisted with a forestry proposal for the Arab areas of the occupied Golan. He lives in France.
Ted Clement-Evans is a UK-based retired chartered surveyor and a campaigner for justice and peace in Palestine.
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