Biased Reporting  - Complain to the BBC

Director, BBC News

Rm 5601,TV Centre    ‘phone            0151-728-7320

Wood Lane

W12 7RJ                                                Thursday, May 06, 2010

Dear Ms Boaden,

Complaint of Bias in favour of Israel

 I was very concerned last night at further evidence of the pro-Israeli bias which the BBC continues to display. 

At a hustings on Tuesday night, when asked what the candidates thought of the embargo on medical supplies into Gaza, Louise Ellman told us that there was no embargo – her audience, which was 75% Muslim, exploded in uproar at her distortion of the truth.   She however is an avowed friend of Israel but that does not excuse such calumny by the BBC – which professes to be unbiased. 

At 3.32am this morning (6/May/2010) the World Service News reported that Palestinians had perforated the bombproof underground steel barrier on the Egypt/Gaza border; saying – this barrier has been ‘designed to stop millions of dollars of illegal goods entering into Gaza’ 

The blockade of Gaza has gone on since 2006 and, particularly since the invasion of Gaza on 28/12/08, has imposed a cruel and inhumane regime on the lives of 1.4 million people of that part of Palestine.   This blockade, imposed by Israel, has been condemned by every known international body, including the UN, EU, Amnesty International, the International Red Cross and is itself totally illegal and imposed for no apparent reason other than to make life intolerable for Palestinians.    

I can only surmise that the upper echelons of the BBC are themselves friends of Israel – I can find no other explanation for this form of Israeli ‘spin-speak’, to describe the importation of goods by the tunnel method as illegal  

It is time that the BBC ceased reporting the affairs of Palestine in ways which are acceptable to Israel.   You told how a convoy of 10 vehicles has been allowed into Gaza but did not say that those vehicles and their goods had been rotting for 3 years awaiting permission to enter and that half the goods had rotted.   You report the Israeli government as saying it remains committed to humanitarian supplies of food, medicine and power.   As you well know, like Louise, this is a fraction of the truth 

As far as I am aware the BBC have failed to report on the impending flotilla of 9 ‘Free Gaza Movement’ vessels which will shortly sail to land humanitarian and reconstruction goods on the shore of Gaza.   A description of their efforts and the appeal for goods to be donated to MV Rachel Corrie – which is currently loading at Dundalk – would be entirely timely and helpful.   A story well worth telling. 

You will recall that Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist was run down by an Israeli Catrpillar machine – whilst wearing a fluorescent jacket and standing in front of Palestinian houses which the bulldozer was in the process of demolishing. 

This and similar events such as illegal arrests of youngsters is happening on a daily basis on the West Bank and it is only by the BBC reporting them that they can be stopped.   Al Jazeera reports them – the Muslim community in the UK is aware of them and is thereby exposed to radicalization. 

It is time that the BBC ceased to flinch from reporting the truth from Palestine and exposed the British people to that truth that Israel’s actions are to be condemned rather than condoned.   The UK and ultimately the world will be a safer place. 

Yours faithfully, 
 

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Tuesday, May 25, 2010 8:46 PM
Subject: Freedom Flotilla Heads for Gaza!

Dear Ms Boaden
 
I would refer you to my letter of the 6th May in which I appealed that you cover the story of the Gaza Freedom Fotilla. 
 
A meeting with the Israeli navy will occur in a day or so   This is potentially a cataclysmic meeting and one which the Beeb surely cannot ignore – with your coverage the siege may perhaps be broken.

URGENT: Save our war crimes legislation

 
We urgently need your help to prevent the Government from seriously undermining the law on Universal Jurisdiction. If the government are successful, magistrates will lose their powers to issue arrest warrants for foreign nationals visiting the UK who are suspected of the worst human rights violations. We expect an announcement on a legislation change this week – please email Gordon Brown today.

What is Universal Jurisdiction?
Universal Jurisdiction allows national courts to prosecute anybody suspected of serious human rights violations such as genocide and war crimes committed anywhere in the world.

What would be the consequences of the change?
The UK could become a safe haven for the world’s worst criminals. In seeking to avoid any future attempts to prosecute suspected war criminals, the Government would subvert the judiciary’s independence and integrity, it would fail to meet its commitments under international law and it would undermine the rights of victims to obtain justice, truth and reparations.

Why is Amnesty objecting so strongly?
No person and no country is above the law and whether we are talking about Israel, Sudan, Congo or Rwanda, there should be an absolute commitment from Britain to help detain and bring to trial those suspected of the world’s worst crimes.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Take action today by emailing the Prime Minister. There’s still time to save our war crimes legislation, but we must act now. Find out more on this issue.

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“ISRAEL REGARDED THE TRAPPED POPULATION OF GAZA AS A KIND OF LABORATORY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF NEW WEAPONS”.

Doctors call for children injured in Gaza conflict to be monitored for long term effects of new weapons.

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/339/nov11_1/b4664

Read the article and forward it with a covering letter to you MP and regioal MEPs requesting that they ensure the monitoring takes place.

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ATTACKS ON BIL’IN

Liverpool Friends of Palestine – Bil’in Link have received 4 emails recently detailing 4 night raids on the village by IDF soldiers within one week.  Houses were ransacked and at least 7 teenage boys were taken away (abducted).  We wish to protest in the strongest possible way against this harassment of the village and we are asking as many people as possible to write letters of protest.  Full details of these raids and background information are contained in the letter below that was sent this week to David Miliband on behalf of the group.  It can be used as a prototype, but your letters can be briefer.  Please adapt it for sending to the following addresses:

David Miliband, Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary: private.office@fco.gov.uk  with a copy to your MP:  (can be found at www.theyworkforyou.com.)
Ron Prosor, Israeli Ambassador:    ambassador@london.mfa.gov.il
Ehud Barak, Israeli Defence Minister:   ehudb@knesset.gov.il

Letter to Miliband: 

We are writing to express our strongest protest against the recent night-time military incursions and attacks on the peaceful citizens of the West Bank village of Bil’in near Ramallah.  The most recent ones occurred on 23rd June at 3am, 25th June, 29th June at 2.30am and 30th June at 4am.  Houses were violently ransacked on each occasion and during the raids seven boys were taken away (abducted)….

 Read more:  Military attacks on Bil’in

(You can get a sense of the violence of these raids by reading the email from Bil’in:  Eyad’s email re raids)
 
 
Lieberman is attempting to persuade EU governments to end the freeze on the EUIAA

Draft e-letter available below or write your own e-letter to:
 
1.The European Commissioner for External Affairs, Ms Benita Ferrero-Waldner
 Email address: benita.ferrero-waldner@ec.europa.eu
 
2. Copy your letter to your MEPs.
 MEPs (www.writetothem.com) and candidates for the EU elections www.europarl.org.uk
 
3. The Foreign Secretary, The Rt Hon  David Miliband MP, House of Commons, London SW1A OAA  

Letter to EU Commissioner for External Affaires

Dear Commissioner Benita  Ferrero-Waldner,

The current visit of the Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, to those E.U Capitals whose governments are known to be predominantly pro-Israeli is disconcerting. Lieberman has expressed openly racist and anti-Arab sentiments, such as his advocacy of the expulsion of Arab citizens from Israel, the cantonisation of the West Bank, the severe restriction of Palestinians within those cantons and the execution of Palestinian members of the Knesset who meet with Hamas. .………….. Read more: 

 re-Lieberman 

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Upgrading of Relations EU-Israel.

Below  is a useful template for letters to David Miliband, to MPs and MEPs, ahead of the EU Association Council, which Avigdor Lieberman is scheduled to attend, on June 14-15.
 
It originates from the Europe-wide Palestinian campaign ECCP which is sending this letter to the Permanent Representations to the EU in Brussels of Malta, Slovenia, Slovakia,Denamark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria,Cyprus, Greece, Luxembourg, Finland and Romania.

 for-the-attention-of-the-permanent-representation-to-the-eu

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