Throughout the month of May 2019, twenty-five written or filmed reports relating to Israel and/or the Palestinians appeared on the BBC News website’s ‘Middle East’ page, some of which also appeared on other pages and two of which were carried over from the previous month.
(dates indicate the time period during which the item was available on the ‘Middle East’ page)
Four reports concerned security issues:
‘Ceasefire’ after hundreds of rockets launched from Gaza into Israel (6/5/19 to 8/5/19 and also 10/5/19 to 16/5/19) Replaced two previous videos at same URL which were discussed here
Hostilities flare up as rockets hit Israel from Gaza (4/5/19 to 5/5/19) discussed here
Gaza conflict: Rocket barrage and Israeli strikes intensify (5/5/19) discussed here
Gaza conflict: ‘Ceasefire’ after days of violence (5/5/19 to 10/5/19)
Five items related to political/diplomatic aspects of the Arab-Israeli conflict:
How tech is bringing Israelis and Palestinians together Melissa Jun Rowley (30/4/19 to 6/5/19 and also 9/5/19) discussed here
Why the WhatsApp spies may have eyes on Iran Paul Danahar (14/5/19 to 22/5/19) discussed here
US Israel-Palestinian peace plan ‘a surrender act’ – Palestinian FM (17/5/19 to 22/5/19) discussed here
Al Jazeera suspends journalists for Holocaust denial video (20/5/19 to 23/5/19)
Why Israel eyes the EU with distrust James Landale (21/5/19 to 30/5/19) discussed here
Of 16 reports concerning Israeli affairs, three were about internal politics:
Israel protests: Thousands rally against Netanyahu immunity (26/5/19 to 29/5/19)
Israel to hold fresh election as Netanyahu fails to form coalition (29/5/19 to 2/6/19)
Israel’s Netanyahu: Is ‘King’ Bibi’s crown slipping? Tom Bateman (30/5/19 to present)
Two reports concerned legal/criminal cases:
Sara Netanyahu: Israeli PM’s wife ‘agrees plea bargain’ (29/5/19 to 31/5/19)
Israel arrests man over Golan Heights mass vulture poisoning (13/5/19 to 16/5/19)
One report had a historical theme:
Israeli researchers brew ‘ancient beer’ with antique yeast (22/5/19 to 24/5/19)
One report was about environmental issues:
Israel probes Golan Heights mass vulture poisoning (10/5/19 to 13/5/19) discussed here and here
Two reports concerned science:
Israeli scientists ‘print 3D heart using human tissue’ (16/4/19 to 2/5/19)
Could desalination help prevent water wars in the Middle East? Yolande Knell 10/5/19 to 18/5/19)
Two reports related to business or technology:
US states file lawsuit accusing drugs firms of inflating costs (12/5/19 to 14/5/19)
Facebook bans “inauthentic” accounts targeting Africa (17/5/19 to 20/5/19)
Four items related to the Eurovision Song Contest hosted in Tel Aviv:
Eurovision Tel Aviv 2019: Why the song contest is bigger than ever Steve Holden & Daniel Rosney (12/5/19 to 20/5/19) discussed here
Madonna Eurovision performance in doubt Mark Savage (14/5/19 to 15/5/19) discussed here
Hackers interrupt Israeli Eurovision webcast with faked explosions (15/5/19 to 17/5/19)
Clashes as ultra-orthodox Jews protest against Eurovision Tom Bateman (18/5/19 to 31/5/19)
One report can be classified as miscellaneous:
I never met my daughter’s dad – she was his dying wish Sarah McDermott (22/5/19 to 5/6/19)
While BBC audiences saw 16 reports concerning Israel, no coverage of internal Palestinian affairs appeared at all throughout the month.
Between January and May 2019 the BBC News website published sixty articles pertaining to Israeli affairs and just seven reports on internal Palestinian affairs.
Related Articles:
Summary of BBC News website portrayal of Israel and the Palestinians – April 2019
Summary of BBC News website portrayal of Israel and the Palestinians – March 2019
Summary of BBC News website portrayal of Israel and the Palestinians – February 2019
Summary of BBC News website portrayal of Israel and the Palestinians – January 2019
