Kiwis for Balanced Reporting on the Middle East

Kiwis for Balanced Reporting On The Mideast New Zealand Media bias

October 6, 2009

Bias on the BBC — no surprise

Radio New Zealand National carried a BBC report on its Midday Report World Watch programme that gave a very one-sided view of recent events at Jerusalem's Temple Mount. Two KBRM members expressed their concerns at the BBC's biased reporting in the following letters.

Although I usually appreciate the breadth and depth of news reporting in the Midday Report programme, I was disappointed to hear today's World Watch report on the closure of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Although I recognise that Radio New Zealand did not produce the BBC report that was used, the BBC's reporting was misleading by the facts it left out.

  • It did not mention that the Jewish Temple Mount complex, including the Western Wall, is the holiest site in Judaism, though it did mention that the Al Aqsa Mosque is one of the holiest sites in Islam;

  • it did not mention that Jews are banned from praying on the Jewish Temple Mount, where the Al Aqsa Mosque stands, at all times, although they can access the Temple Mount site at specified times;

  • although it mentioned the ban on Arabs of certain ages attending the Al Aqsa Mosque at present, it did not mention that the Western Wall has been closed to all Jews, by Israeli authorities. Many Muslims are still able to access the Mosque for prayer, but no Jews can access the Western Wall to pray;

  • it did not mention that this incident was sparked by Muslim clerics calling Arabs to defend the Temple Mount from Jews who may attempt to pray on the Temple Mount during the Jewish religious festival of Sukkot, when thousands of Jews attend the Western Wall to pray;

  • it did not mention the very real potential for Jews to be injured by Arabs on the Temple Mount throwing objects down on Jewish worshippers at the Western Wall (some thing which has happened repeatedly in the past), nor did it mention the Israeli police and civilians who were injured by stone throwing Arabs earlier this week, while on the Mount of Olives;

  • it did not mention the religious significance of this week as Jews observe the festival of Sukkot, nor did it mention the implications of Jews being banned from praying at the Western wall at such a religiously important time.

  • Israeli authorities have cracked down more harshly on the religious freedom of Jewish Israelis than of their Arab counterparts in this instance, particularly when one considers the lengths Israeli authorities go to accommodate Muslims during the feast of Ramadan.

None of these points came through in the BBC supplied World Watch report. The BBC has been noted in the past for failing to report on Middle Eastern affairs in an impartial manner.

I can understand that the story behind what is happening in Jerusalem is more complicated than can be readily explained in a brief news clip, but I suggest that giving only half the story is, at best, misleading. It would be good if Radio New Zealand National could source a more balanced report on what is happening in Jerusalem, if it needs to report on it at all.

Given the delicate and complicated nature of Middle Eastern politics, I would recommend that if World Watch cannot source material that gives the whole story within its context, it would be better to say nothing at all.

It was disappointing to hear the BBC item in Midday Worldwatch about the troubles in Jerusalem, because it did not give a balanced coverage of events.
The news report from the Jerusalem Post (below) includes significant points not covered by the BBC:

  • the Arab attacks with stones on Jewish men praying at the Mount of Olives cemetery

  • the incitement by Palestinian leaders to ‘defend’ the Al Aksa Mosque, when it is well known that Israeli regulations prevent Jews from praying there.

The BBC report referred to the age limit on Arabs going to the Temple Mount but did not mention the wheelbarrows of rocks prepared for Arab use against Jews coming to the Western Wall.
I realise that you have to broadcast BBC material without alteration, but ask you to reconsider using it at all when the BBC's reputation on its coverage of the Middle East is not good (e.g. some examples are: the report of the May 2006 independent enquiry (chair, Sir Quentin Thomas which found that the BBC failed to provide full accounts in proper context; Orla Guerin distortions during Israel's 2006 conflict with Hezbollah; the Balen Report which has still not been released).
News coverage of the Middle East, and particularly the Israel/Arab/Palestinian conflict, is more complex than problems in many other parts of the world. I ask you to be more careful in the choice of items you broadcast about the area.