SUMMARY OF BBC NEWS WEBSITE PORTRAYAL OF ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS – JANUARY 2023

Throughout the month of January 2023, thirty-three 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 – Israel time – during which the item was available on the ‘Middle East’ page)

Ten items concerned terrorism and counter-terrorism operations:

Palestinian teacher shot while giving first aid to militant Tom Bateman (19/1/23 to 24/1/23) discussed here

Israel probes death of Palestinian who was pepper-sprayed and shot Yolande Knell (23/1/23 to 27/1/23) discussed here

Nine Palestinians killed in Israeli raid in Jenin later attributed to Yolande Knell & David Gritten (26/1/23 and 28/1/23 to 29/1/23) discussed here and here

Israel-Palestinian conflict: Fears of wider flare-up after deadly Jenin raid Tom Bateman (26/1/23 to 30/1/23) discussed here

Drone footage shows extent of damage after Jenin raid (26/1/23 to present)

Israel hits militant sites in Gaza after rockets fired following deadly raid Raffi Berg (27/1/23 to 30/1/23) discussed here

Jerusalem police chief on synagogue attack (27/1/23 to 30/1/23 and 2/2/23 to present)

Seven killed in Jerusalem synagogue attack (27/1/23) discussed here

Jerusalem synagogue shooting: Israel arrests 42 after deadly attack (27/1/23 to 31/1/23) discussed here and here

Jerusalem shooting: Israel to speed up gun applications after attacks (28/1/23 to 31/1/23) discussed here

One report carried over from December concerned a vote at the UN:

UN seeks top court opinion on Israeli occupation (31/12/22 to 4/1/23) discussed here

One item was about archaeology:

Fried or scrambled? Prehistoric ostrich eggs for cooking found in Israel (12/1/23 to 16/1/23)

Two reports that were part of the BBC’s Christmas coverage were carried over from the previous month:

The UK charity helping Holy Land donkeys Yolande Knell (25/12/22 to 30/1/23)

Saving donkeys in the Holy Land Yolande Knell (25/12/22 to 19/1/23)

One item concerned religion:

First woman pastor in Holy Land ordained Yolande Knell (22/1/23 to 26/1/23)

One item had a historical theme:

The Gaza family tending World War graves for 100 years Yolande Knell (25/1/23 to 27/1/23 and 31/1/23 to present) discussed here

Four reports concerned visits to Israel by foreign officials:

UK accused of ignoring extremism over talks with Israel’s new government Tom Bateman (11/1/23 to 14/1/23) discussed here

UK minister’s visit to Jerusalem holy site hampered by Israeli police Tom Bateman (12/1/23 to 18/1/23) discussed here

Antony Blinken in Jerusalem: Urgent steps needed for calm Raffi Berg (30/1/23 to 1/2/23) discussed here

Antony Blinken: Settlements hinder Israeli-Palestinian peace Raffi Berg (31/1/23 to 2/2/23) discussed here

One report concerned Palestinian affairs:

Gaza’s only all-girl boxing club finds a home (26/1/23 to present)

Of twelve reports concerning Israeli affairs, two related to an incident of vandalism:

Anglican Church and UK condemn desecration of Jerusalem graves Yolande Knell (4/1/23 to 6/1/23)

Jerusalem Christian cemetery attack: Two teenagers arrested Raffi Berg (6/1/23 to 10/1/23)

One concerned the release of a terrorist with Israeli citizenship from prison:

Israel releases longest-serving Palestinian prisoner David Gritten (5/1/23 to 7/1/23) discussed here

Seven items, including two carried over from previous month, concerned Israel’s new government, its policies and protests against them:

Palestinian fears heightened as Israeli far right heads to power Tom Bateman (22/12/22 to 25/12/22 and 29/12/22 to 18/1/23) discussed here

Netanyahu’s hard-line new government takes office in Israel Yolande Knell & David Gritten (29/12/22 to 4/1/23)

Israel plan to curb Supreme Court’s powers sparks outcry Raffi Berg (5/1/23 to 7/1/23)

Over 80,000 Israelis protest against Supreme Court reform Emily McGarvey (14/1/23 to 19/1/23)

Thousands of Israelis hold legal reforms protest in Tel Aviv (17/1/23 to 1/2/23) previously in ‘updates’ section 14/1/23 to 16/1 23)

Israel’s Supreme Court blocks appointment of key Netanyahu ally David Gritten (18/1/23 to 23/1/23)

Israelis stage giant protest against Netanyahu court reform Tom Bateman (22/1/23 to 24/1/23)

Two items concerned a fifteen-minute visit by an Israeli minister to Temple Mount:

Jerusalem: Palestinian anger over far-right Israeli minister’s holy site visit Yolande Knell & Raffi Berg (3/1/23 to 6/1/23) discussed here

Israel and Palestinians in holy site war of words Raffi Berg (6/1/23 to 10/1/23) discussed here

In addition – not included in our count – three items appeared in the ‘updates’ section underneath the ‘Middle East’ page but not on the page itself:

Israeli minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visits contested Jerusalem holy site

NUS failed to challenge antisemitism – report Hazel Shearing, discussed here

Israel: Drone footage shows scale of protests in central Tel Aviv

BBC coverage of internal Palestinian affairs during January did not include violence against women, house demolitions in the Gaza Strip, a strike against UNRWA, allegations of torture in PA prisons or a tax on telephones.

Related Articles:

SUMMARY OF BBC NEWS WEBSITE PORTRAYAL OF ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS – DECEMBER 2022

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2 Comments

  1. says: Richard Turnbull

    Possibly you should consider synthesizing the main themes of all this and getting a book published. The BBC and the Guardian seem to be unable to learn from what this website has documented so far.

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