The last fortnight has seen a series of brutal, deliberately provocative Israeli attacks on Palestinian worshippers at Al Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Needless to say, Israel had no business interfering in Muslim worship at Al Aqsa, the third holiest shrine for Muslims after Mecca and Medina, and an area which is not under their authority or control. Despite this, Israeli attacks on Al Aqsa have intensified in recent years as the apartheid state strives to undermine all aspects of Palestinian life in Jerusalem. It is applying ethnic cleansing in slow motion.
Inevitably missile attacks on Israel from Gaza and Southern Lebanon followed and Israel has reveled in once again trying to portray itself to the world as the victim.
There is an excellent 10-minute video in which former Palestinian spokesperson Hanan Ashrawi more than held her own against a hostile BBC interviewer here.
There is also an excellent podcast produced by Al Jazeera which backgrounds the increase in violence in the Middle East. Speakers are:
· Nour Odeh – Political analyst and former spokeswoman for the Palestinian National Authority.
· Uri Dromi – Founder and president of the Jerusalem Press Club and a former spokesman for the Israel government.
· Francesca Albanese – United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Further background on the politics around Al Aqsa is covered in this Al Jazeera podcast.
Media reporting over the past fortnight
Initially reporting here in New Zealand was reasonable and clearly identified Israel as the brutal racist aggressors attacking Palestinian civilians at worship. However, within a couple of days media reporting deteriorated dramatically with the “normal” appalling reporting taking over – painting Palestinians as terrorists and Israel as simply enforcing law and order.
At the heart of appalling reporting for a long time has been the BBC which slavishly and consistently screws the scrum in Israel’s favour. The BBC does not report on the Middle East – it propagandises for Israel. It has long been captured by the UK’s racist pro-Israel lobby.
Journalist Jonathan Cook describes how the BBC coverage is enabling Israeli violence and UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, called out the BBC’s awful reporting in a tweet.
It’s not just the BBC of course. For example the New York Times has been called out for deliberately distorting the news to blame Palestinians for Al Aqsa mosque crisis.
It’s not reporting – it’s propaganda!
Why is the BBC important for Aotearoa New Zealand?
Unfortunately, here in Aotearoa New Zealand our media frequently and uncritically uses BBC reports to inform New Zealanders on the Middle East.
Radio New Zealand and Television New Zealand, our state broadcasters, are the worst offenders.
For example here are two BBC stories carried on RNZ this past week here and here. They cover the deaths of three Jewish women in a terrorist attack in the occupied West Bank. The media should report such killings but there is no context whatever given for the illegal Jewish-only settlements at the heart in the occupied West Bank, Israel’s military occupation across all Palestine, the daily ritual humiliation and debasement of Palestinians or its racist apartheid policies towards Palestinians – or as Israeli human rights groups B’Tselem describes it “A regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This is apartheid” Neither are there Palestinian voices in the above reports – they are typically absent from most Middle East reporting, or at best muted, compared to extensive quoting from racist Israeli leaders.
The BBC is happy to report the “What?” but not the “Why?”
Needless to say neither Radio New Zealand, nor TVNZ, has provided any such sympathetic coverage for the many dozens of Palestinians killed by Israel this year – including at least 16 Palestinian children. To the BBC, RNZ and TVNZ, murdered Palestinian children are simply statistics.
RNZ and TVNZ say they cannot ensure to cover all the complexities of the Middle East in every story and that people get a balanced view over time from their regular reporting.
This is not true. Their reliance on so much systematically-biased BBC reporting, and other sources which are often not much better, tells a different story. For example, references to Israel as an apartheid state – something attested to by every credible human rights groups – such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch – are always absent from any RNZ or TVNZ reporting and yet this is critical to help people understand what is going on in Palestine. Neither are there significant references to international law or United Nations resolutions – the tools which provide for a Middle East peace based on justice – the only peace possible.
Unlike their reporting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, RNZ and TVNZ reporting on the Middle East leaves people confused and ready to blame both sides equally for the murder and mayhem unleashed by Israel on Palestinians and Palestinian resistance to the Israeli military occupation and all that entails.
The first step, for the benefit of journalism and the understanding of New Zealanders is for RNZ and TVNZ is to refuse to republish any future BBC reports on the Middle East.
John – Not keen on free speech/expression are you John…no surprise
Not true of Minto at all, he thought Posie Parker should have spoken and he has never been opposed to others coming into the country, or indeed anyone here speaking e.g. Don Brash whose view about Maori and what they should and shouldn’t have has long been in the media.
Michal – yet – if it comes to Palestine…no retreat, no surrender is his position…which is insane
There can be No Retreat on Opposing Israeli Apartheid. Some people have “Opinions” that Israel is not an Apartheid state and want us to Ignore International Law. I support International Law over Opinions Every Day Of The Week!
Neil – this is simply not true…both sides were instructed by the International Criminal Court, and the United Nations – to hold a series of summits to discuss issues…and Palestine representatives did not show! They, Palestine representatives, were found in their North African dwellings…not in Palestine
Yoiu have ignored the fact Israel is an Apartheid state. Answering a question I did not ask.
Neil – So, why did the Palestinian leadership not show up to discuss their future…could it be claiming victim status allows more money to them?
I suspect so, after all it works for Israel and has for donkeys
John is all for free Speech. The issue is with media outlets Refusing to be Neutral and report the wider context, relevant facts or comments from Both sides leaving the Palestinians, living under a Vicious, Deadly, Brutal, Illegal Occupation not having their voices heard.
If You really support Free Speech, You would support John’s efforts here.
Neil – Go live in Israel, then the Palestine settlements…which one is ruled by law, and which one is ruled by the gun…
Yes ruled by a law that says Palestinians living in Israel are lesser beings. 67 laws specifically for Palestinians living in Israel that makes them 2nd class citizens.
Nathan I was told the same sort of rubbish during the apartheid era of South Africa. Go and see for yourself. None of us need to.
Michal – I have seen it…and it is seriously misleading to claim that the Palestine homeland is only in Israel …the homeland spreads into Jordan, Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon…
Once again, I see that You Ignore the issue raised. So typical to say look over there, Around that corner but Not at the issues of Apartheid in Israel.
Neil – It is YOU ignoring the issue…why should Israel give up more land. The fact that the Palestinian Arabs control areas within Syria – Egypt – Jordan – Lebanon already which is THREE TIMES the size of Israel.
Anyone who has a different view on Israel v Palestine from John Minto’s is a racist (apparently).
I cannot recall Minto saying anything in relation to this Ada. Anyone who hasn’t read the history of the place should do so. I know there is someone on here sometimes saying there has never been any such place as Palestine. I am working on my family tree and several people way back in time went to fight in Palestine, that is in the history books.
Michal, too right
Stephen and Michal — which history period?? The last 70 years, or the last 2,000 years?? The last 70 years shows the neighboring nations rejecting the Palestinian cause, because there is more Palestinian Arabs living in Jordan/Syria, than Israel…2,000 years ago – King David, Jewish King, ran the place…
neihana, King david was a palestinian. The Jews in the M.E are Arabs that what get left out of this conversation. The majority settlers in Israel are from Europe and everywhere else their ancestors DNA are from Poland, Russia, France, England, USA, Yemen, Egypt, Iraq, Morocco USA…etc
This 2000 years meme is a hasbara zionist troupe and you sir have drunk the kool aid.
Free Palestine
Stephen – Really…that (David was Palestinian) is untrue…he was Jewish, born within an Palestine area…Free Palestine?? Which part? – Syria? Lebanon? Egypt? Jordan? only the Israel part…why is that? Oh right – Arabs hate Israel – think for yourself Tipene!
Let’s go for 2000 years or more, in 63BC Roman troops occupied Palestine.
Michal – That occupation of Palestine by the Romans – was to crush the Jewish uprising…hence Israel has been Jewish for over 2,000 years…thanks for proving my point Michal
Oh so you agree it was called Palestine. And then because of immense guilt the Brits gave it to the Jews. So few of those Jews in 1948 who came to Israel actually had anything to do with the terror that Germany put upon them and that the whole world to its shame ignored. The very idea that my cousin who was born in Aotearoa can simply leave and go and live in what is now called Israel, some else’s country is appalling. I think most of us know this as colonisation.
Michal – Of course, but Palestine is HUGE…it covers 4 nations…so, my question is why focus on a small part of it – where the Jews live = racism… Now, the UN (not Britain) provided the Jews back their homeland — their homeland of about 2,000+ years, after the Nazi tried to wipe them out.
As I watch your comments, it becomes Obvious that you have come here to Troll and divert attention from the issue John Raised. That the BBC provides One Sided coverage on Palestine/Israel.
Sad really.
Neil – Name calling is all Palestinian Arab supporters have, once their half truths are exposed…enjoy your day
I see the BBC are now a government accredited news platform.
I wonder how long before Elon does the same to Stuff, NZ Herald, Newshub, Radio NZ…
Only a few random reports with any semblance of fair reporting on the Al Aqsa Mosque snuck through on RNZ–one an Aussie reporter on the 5am First Start. RNZ sounded relieved though when reports claimed a few puny “missiles” had been launched by Palestinians so they could put the boot in as per usual.
Generally the coverage refers to “conflict between Palestinians and IDF and cops”. What a joke, kneeling or sitting unarmed worshipers beaten with batons and subjected to stun grenades! More like a planned racist attack by the new extreme right Israeli Govt.
Thank you John. The omissions are so evident to anyone comparing news that RNZ offers. Had the BBC interview with Hanan Ashwari been viewed here then at least viewers could evaluate for themselves the veracity of her comments. We are denied the realities of Palestinian subjugation by Israeli laws and forces articulated by this highly intelligent and eloquent spokesperson. Instead, we are subjected to the ubiquitous spin provided by the pro-Israel interests. No wonder trust in RNZ is decreasing daily as more realistic reporting providing important contexts is available elsewhere.
Not only John Minto, but also the UN has today called out Israel for its war crimes in Jerusalem, and called on the international community to stand up to them. This includes NZ – and NZ media.
https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/04/israel-un-experts-urge-international-community-end-forced-displacement-and
In order to make sense of the tragic events in Palestine we deserve honest media presentations of the real situation, starting with the basic understanding and context that Israel is a colonial-settler regime exercising Apartheid-style control of historic Palestine enforced by brutal military occupation. The BBC consistently fails to deliver this reality.
The first step to really understanding world affairs is to realize that journalism – of the mainstream kind – spearheaded by the likes of the BBC and the countless news sites that host their views, cannot be trusted to give accurate, unbiased information on any event, let alone that of the Middle East variety.
Mainstream media today is thee most dangerous entity facing humanity today!
Maybe we just need better journalism.
Great points John.
The country gets all freaked out by purported Chinese influence, and yet here we have our main media outlets peddling US and UK foreign policy propaganda.
How were Jewish synagogues treated in the Arab world? Razed to the ground without exception and all the property of Jewish citizens confiscated. Around 900,000 Jews were expelled from Muslim states from 1948 to the early 70’s.
How does this address the issue of the BBC refusing to put the Illegal Israeli Occupation of Palestine in context?
Is it just a Look Over There position to divert attention to the issue raised? Which is what I see all the time from Pro Israel Apartheid supporters.
Andrew, sprouting hasbara BS without historical context typical zionist tactic.
The countries that the Arab Jews were expelled from had been helped by zionist to emigrate to Palestine/Israel , like bombing Synagogues, Jewish businesses, restaurants, etc.. they had created themselves different names like Mossad, or even the Ergun, the Stern gang etc.. these were terrorist entities disguising themselves as Jewish nationalist.
These were desperates acts by the Zionist regime because they’d during 1947-48 ethnically cleansed nearly a million indigenous palestinians and hardly had anyone to do the labour jobs and the European jews hadn’t had the numbers nor did they want to pick fruits and other labourios jobs because they were too superior so reached out to the Arab Jews to do the dirty work.
These BS narratives are similar to your rant about Moriori were here before Maori. Same shit
Andrew, You don’t have a clue, and the reasoning for the Arab Jews expulsion from Arab countries is because of the expulsion by Zionist of the Indigenous Palestinian from Palestine.
There also more but I’ll just let you figure that out for yourself because you’re just repeating Israeli hasbara propaganda that already been debunked.
#Free Palestine
Well Stephen, if you had studied the history you would know:
There were very few ‘indigenous’ Palestinians because there was no such thing as ‘Palestine’ under the Ottoman Empire. Most of those living there prior to Jewish settlement at the end of the 19th century were nomadic Beduin. Of those farming, most didn’t own the land they had settled on and paid rent to absentee landlords in Istanbul. Newly arrived Jews from central Europe bought the land from the actual owners and dispossessed the Arabs.
Few of today’s ‘Palestinians’ can point to a long history of living in today’s Israel, with many of their grandparents moving to the land during the period of the British Mandate to get jobs on Jewish owned farms and factories from neighbouring states. Most famously Yassar Arafat held an Egyptian passport and was born in Cairo.
the bbc is has always been ‘political’ there was no golden age…look at the reporting of demos in the 70s…but and it’s a big but some current presenters and journalists are fatally compromised
Apartheid Israel is the only democracy in the M.E. (Sarcasm) Most democracies support apartheid Israel even little ole NZ. Israel is about to get a rude awakening when the Arab nations reunite thanks to Russia & China.
The right and far right even some of the left (UK Labour support for Israel) are ardent supporters of apartheid Israel, for instance a Neo nazi sympathiser in the UK goes by the name “Tommy Robinson” aka (Stephen Yaxley Lennon) is proof of this unwavering support for this particular fascist state.
Shit, Israel used former Nazi Germany gestapo ‘Otto Skorzeny’ to do their bidding even decorated the war criminal. The Haavara agreement in the 1930s was between Hitler and the Zionist. there are amble examples of Israel’s support for far-right fascist regime in South America for more than 4 decades.
The Big Bushitting Corporation shouldn’t been taken with any credibility and the NZ media are just stenographers perpetrating one of the many the myth that Israel is under existential threat beside being the only democracy in the M.E.
Free palestine
Thanks John for your clear points on media bias. Context and history is everything. Using the terms Apartheid, Occupation and Settler colonial state are essential in describing the appalling conditions Palestinians live under everyday. “The BBC’s coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is “incomplete” and “misleading”, including failing to adequately report the hardships of Palestinians living under occupation, an independent review commissioned by the corporation’s board of governors has found” https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/may/03/israel.broadcasting
Excellent Post @ J.M.
I stopped listening/ watching re BBC years ago. When I saw it becoming a greedy old rag snivelling at the feet of powerful money.
Try The Guardian instead. Or Russell Brand and his news feeds.
I watched an Al Jazeera documentary on the israeli arms manufacturing and trialing industry which cynically used ( U$A supported ) isreals aggression towards Palestinians to trial and sell guns and bullets.
Examples:
The Lab
A unique insight into the world of Israeli arms dealers selling weapons and experience around the world.
https://www.aljazeera.com/program/witness/2014/5/8/the-lab
Israel maintains robust arms trade with rogue regimes
Myanmar, which is conducting a ‘textbook ethnic cleansing’ of its Rohingya minority, is among the beneficiaries.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/10/23/israel-maintains-robust-arms-trade-with-rogue-regimes
Israel’s booming secretive arms trade
New documentary argues success of country’s weapons industry relies on exploiting Palestinians.
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2013/8/16/israels-booming-secretive-arms-trade
In short Israel uses the Palestinians to weapons test their latest trinkets to sell to murderous others around the world.
The Guardian….O’Dea(r).
Please get up to speed countryboy. (Waiting for Russell Brand to say it?)
Finding the israelis on bbc/rnz and our media generally merely supports my theory that as the world melts down and as millions and billions start dying re climate change and war the israelis will come for us too. We’re in grave danger and it’s that worst kind of danger. It’s that kind of grave danger that doesn’t appear to be dangerous at all.
RNZ and TVNZ put themselves forward as professional news platforms. But Refuse to allow their own Journalists to correct the biased reporting of the BBC. Acknowledging the Illegal Israeli Occupation of the Occupied Palestinian Territories is fundamental to the context of these news stories. If I worked for RNZ or TVNZ in their newsrooms, I would be Embarrassed by what the Editors in charge allow through pretending it is Balanced reporting. They should speak up to their management. Or get used to being though as Shills in defense of Israeli Occupation znd Apartheid.
“The first step, for the benefit of journalism and the understanding of New Zealanders is for RNZ and TVNZ is to refuse to republish any future BBC reports on the Middle East.”
Better they don’t simply rely on the BBC as the ‘goto’ sauce, and offer alternative sources and some critical analysis alongside.
I realise the critical analysis might be a tough ask with many of the autocue readers and cadet journalists at the helm, but they could at least make an effort.
Also, the BBC is currently being ripped apart with some of the best of its journalists getting the push in favour of a few media stars, and in the name of austerity. Just as the Tories like, and they haven’t finished yet. We need more voices, not fewer.
They were super fast to pull RT (Russia Today) off Sky as soon as the Ukraine war started (presumably to ensure we are fed a one-side story… if “Russian Propaganda” on RT was obvious, it would surely do no harm to hear and subsequently criticise it). The double standard is noteworthy.
Seriously fuck them. Why on earth anyone would pay a sky news subscription so they can brainwash them is beyond comprehension.
The older I get, the more obvious it is becoming that the MSM (and by extension the agencies regulating it) are all part of a massive psy-op and/or social engineering experiment.
My pattern-recognition faculties indicate that the Jews love to push multi-culturalism, minority rights and globalism (i.e. anti-nationalism) everywhere they in the world, except of course when these principles concern Israel. They give themselves a pass from their own rules.
Meh, Jews in Israel are nationalistic. Jews in the wider world not so much. Kiwis in Enzed are nationalistic, those abroad, not so much.
Excellent article, John. And some very good points in the comments. But where’s Gaby..
The role the broadcasters play in forming our views is clearly something that’s been worked out for a while and “appropriate” techniques put into practice. My favourite metaphor for (evil) propaganda is – it’s like rat bait. 95% healthy, 5% toxin. Unfortunately my preferred station, National Radio, too frequently has profane invective directed at as I respond to lies they pass on. In the spirit of bilingual RNZ, “pokokohua!” to those bullshitters. They need to stop licking the BBC’s arse.
I think Israel’s days are numbered? With Iran, Saudi, UAE, Russia, China and Turkey and Syria, Iraq all kissing and making up recently and reuniting the Arab league. I think someone’s arse is about to be kicked.
John you are correct about the removal of the British Bias Corporation.
Look how they undermined Jeremy Corbyn in two general election campaigns and subtly during his time as the Labour leader using a smear campaign around anti Semitism and other destabilising actions.
They are a propaganda toll of the British establishment and they have proved it over so many contentious issues including the holocaust in the Palestinian territories.
” Unfortunately, here in Aotearoa New Zealand our media frequently and uncritically uses BBC reports to inform New Zealanders on the Middle East.
” Radio New Zealand and Television New Zealand, our state broadcasters, are the worst offenders.”
Yes and those broadcasters are not impartial particularly the former Radio New Zealand or national radio.
They have become just like the BBC an outlet for propaganda and biased in favour of the same people who control the BBC. I have watched it deteriorate as I am sure you have over the last thirty years. Radio New Zealand could always be relied upon to give a balanced direction of domestic and foreign events and news but thanks to the ” its almost legal ” government of Key , English , Joyce and other vermin its purpose is not to inform without a biased agenda and the Joyce appointed board eliminated one of the last remaining state broadcasters that was independent.
It looks like the internet has taken the place of freedom of information in that we have a choice on what we read and listen to with perspective.
John I don’t always comment on your posts with regards to the inhuman suffering and subjugation of the people of Palestine but I thank you for continuing to expose the suffering and evil crimes of the west backed Israelis whose own nation was formed after the deliberate genocide of the Jewish people only to become the enemy their people fled to escape after the Nazi atrocities.
They have learnt nothing from the horrors of Auschwitz and other extermination camps in eastern Europe.