Throughout the month of January 2021, twenty-six written or filmed reports relating to Israel and/or the Palestinians appeared on the BBC News website’s ‘Middle East’ page, some of which were also published on other pages and five of which were carried over from the previous month.
(dates in brackets indicate the time period during which the item was available on the ‘Middle East’ page)
One article carried over from the previous month related to the normalisation of relations between Israel and Arab nations:
Sudan-Israel deal fuels migrants’ fears (21/12/20 to 17/1/21) discussed here
Three reports concerned security issues:
Syria war: Suspected Israeli strikes on Iran-linked targets ‘kill dozens’ (13/1/21 to 18/1/21) discussed here
Why Iran’s nuclear facilities are still vulnerable to attack Frank Gardner (19/1/21 to 31/1/21) discussed here
Delhi blast: Small bomb detonates near Israeli embassy in Indian capital (31/1/21 to 2/2/21) discussed here
One report concerned the new US administration’s policies:
Biden administration to restore aid to Palestinians (27/1/21 to 30/1/21)
One report was about an archaeological discovery:
Israeli archaeologists find ‘Biblical royal purple dye’ (29/1/21 to 1/2/21)
Two Christmas items about Bethlehem were carried over from the previous month:
Faith and fertility at Bethlehem’s Milk Grotto Yolande Knell (19/12/20 to 12/1/21) discussed here
Christmas celebrations to go ahead in Bethlehem Yolande Knell (20/12/20 to 24/1/21 and 26/1/21 to 27/1/21)
Also carried over from the previous month was one item concerning Palestinian affairs:
Samaa Abdulhadi: Activists call for release of ‘Palestinian techno queen’ Tala Halawa (30/12/20 to 2/1/21)
Two items were about the death of a US citizen:
Obituary: Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate who moved an embassy (12/1/21 to 21/1/21)
Casino mogul and political donor Sheldon Adelson dead at 87 (12/1/21 to 16/1/21)
One report concerned a court case neither in nor about Israel:
Beny Steinmetz: Mining tycoon in Swiss trial over Guinea deal (11/1/21 to 13/1/21)
Of 14 items relating to Israeli affairs, twelve concerned the Coronavirus pandemic and associated vaccination drive, with a quarter of those promoting the political campaign concerning Israel’s supposed ‘obligation’ to supply vaccines to non-citizens:
Coronavirus: Israel leads vaccine race with 12% given jab dated January 3rd but actually published January 2nd (2/1/21 to 11/1/21)
Covid-19: Impact on Israel Tom Bateman (3/1/21 to 9/1/21)
Israel leads in vaccination rates – but is ‘not out of the woods yet’ Tom Bateman (6/1/21 to 12/1/21)
Israel publishes data-for-vaccines deal with Pfizer (18/1/21 to 20/1/21)
Israel extends lockdown as concerns raised about single dose vaccine (20/1/21 to 24/1/21)
Covid: Israel vaccine fears ‘out of context and inaccurate’ Rachel Schraer (21/1/21 to 25/1/21)
Covid: Israel vaccinates 16 to 18-year-olds ahead of exams (24/1/21 to 25/1/21)
Covid-19: Vaccine divides in the Middle East Yolande Knell (25/1/21 to 2/2/21) discussed here
Covid: Facebook suspends Israel PM Netanyahu’s chatbot (25/1/21 to 27/1/21)
Covid-19: Why are Palestinians not getting vaccines? Reality Check (26/1/21 to present) discussed here
Covid: Thousands attend Israel funeral for orthodox rabbi (31/1/21 to present)
Covid: Israel to transfer 5,000 vaccine doses to Palestinians (31/1/21 to present) discussed here
One report carried over from the previous month concerned new arrivals in Israel:
Jonathan Pollard: Israel spy greeted by Netanyahu after flying to Tel Aviv (30/12/20 to 1/1/21)
One report related to a legal case:
Malka Leifer: Israel extradites ex-principal accused of child sex abuse in Australia (25/1/21 to 26/1/21)
In summary, the sole item concerning internal Palestinian affairs to appear (for two days) on the BBC News website’s ‘Middle East’ page throughout January was carried over from the previous month. In contrast, 53.8% of the month’s content related to Israeli affairs with 46% of the total reports published relating to the topic of the Coronavirus pandemic. 11.5% of the month’s content promoted a political campaign initiated by political NGOs and later amplified by two UNHRC special rapporteurs.
Related Articles:
SUMMARY OF BBC NEWS WEBSITE PORTRAYAL OF ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS – DECEMBER 2020
REVIEWING BBC NEWS WEBSITE COVERAGE OF PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS IN 2020
The BBC obsession with Israel is really quite bizarre, but it is all part of their BDS anti-Israel, pro-Iranian propaganda campaign funded through their BBC World arm, which they refuse to allow to be audited. No other country in the world large or small is subjected to so much intense scrutiny. The BBC are acting a bit like an arm of the corrupt United Nations in their condemnation of the only democracy in the Middle East.