Throughout the month of August 2023, twenty-four 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 nine 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)
Five items carried over from the previous month related to a two-day counter-terrorism operation in Jenin in early July, coverage of which was discussed here, here, here and here:
Watch: BBC editor ducks as gunfire interrupts report Jeremy Bowen (4/7/23 to 14/8/23)
Israel’s Jenin operation reignites Palestinian anger Jeremy Bowen (4/7/23 to 13/8/23)
BBC reports from inside Jenin refugee camp after Israeli assault Anna Foster & Jeremy Bowen (5/7/23 to 7/7/23 and 12/7/23 to present)
Palestinian families return to rubble in Jenin refugee camp Eman Eriqat & Alaa Daraghmeh (5/7/23 to 14/8/23)
Jenin: Palestinians fear escalation after destructive West Bank assault Tom Bateman (5/7/23 to 8/7/23 and 11/7/23 to 14/8/23)
Seven items concerned terrorism, counter-terrorism operations or security issues:
Israel says its forces killed three Palestinian militants in West Bank Yolande Knell (6/8/23 to 13/8/23) discussed here
West Bank: Two Israelis killed in suspected Palestinian shooting near Hawara Yolande Knell (19/8/23 to 21/8/23) discussed here
Israeli woman shot dead in attack on car in southern West Bank David Gritten (21/8/23 to 25/8/23) discussed here
Palestinian militant, 17, killed during Israeli West Bank raid Tom Bateman (22/8/23 to 27/8/23) discussed here
Israeli soldier killed, Palestinian teen attack suspect shot dead amid violent surge Yolande Knell (31/8/23 to 4/9/23) discussed here
US condemns Israeli minister Ben Gvir’s ‘inflammatory’ Palestinian comments Tom Bateman (25/8/23 to 28/8/23) discussed here
Palestinian fears grow amid rising Israeli settler attacks Yolande Knell (28/8/23 to 1/9/23) discussed here
One report carried over from the previous month concerned events on the border between Israel and Lebanon:
Israel-Lebanon border tension raises fears of bloody escalation Tom Bateman (28/7/23 to 6/8/23 and 15/8/23 to present) discussed here
One item related to events in Syria:
Syria says four soldiers killed in Israeli strike in Damascus (7/8/23 to 11/8/23) discussed here
One item concerned evacuations from Ethiopia:
Israel evacuates Jews from Ethiopia conflict region Kalkidan Yibeltal (11/8/23 to 14/8/23)
One report concerned Libya:
Protests erupt in Libya over contact with Israel Alex Binley & Raffi Berg (28/8/23 to 31/8/23) discussed here
One report was about a story from Iran:
Iran: Weightlifter Mostafa Rajai banned for photo with Israeli Sebastian Usher & Nadeem Shad (30/8/23 to 4/9/23)
One item – tagged only ‘Israel’ – concerned a legal case in Australia:
Malka Leifer: Israeli ex-principal jailed for sexually abusing Australian students Tiffanie Turnbull (24/8/23 to 28/8/23)
One item was about archaeology:
Auctioneer exposed by BBC admits illegally selling rare ancient coins Sarah Saey (27/8/23 to 31/8/23)
One item carried over from the previous month related to Palestinian affairs, albeit in Lebanon:
Lebanon clashes: Thousands flee violence at Palestinian refugee camp (30/7/23 to 10/8/23) discussed here and here
Of four reports concerning Israeli affairs, three (two of which were carried over from the previous month) concerned protests against proposed changes to the judicial system:
Israeli protesters vow no let-up in anti-reform fight Paul Adams (25/7/23 to 18/8/23)
Israel reforms: Water cannon and arrests at Jerusalem protests (24/7/23 updates & 26/7/23 to present)
Israelis seek opportunities abroad amid unrest at home Yolande Knell (14/8/23 to 22/8/23)
One item related to crime:
Israeli Arabs demand action over spike in murders linked to organised crime Tom Bateman & David Gritten (23/8/23 to 28/8/23) discussed here
In addition – not included in our count – two items appeared in the ‘updates’ section underneath the ‘Middle East’ page but not on the page itself:
BBC News website readers saw no new reporting on internal Palestinian affairs throughout August. Among the stories from PA and Hamas controlled areas that were ignored by the BBC were clashes between PA forces and terrorists in Jenin, a rally in Jenin, death sentences issued by Hamas, the dismissal of twelve PA regional governors, the death of a prisoner in the Gaza Strip, the forced retirement of PA ambassadors and diplomats and protests in the Gaza Strip.
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SUMMARY OF BBC NEWS WEBSITE PORTRAYAL OF ISRAEL AND THE PALESTINIANS – JULY 2023
Not a single article on Israeli achievements and/or successes in the technical, cultural and medical fields. Does this tell us something about the BBC’s policy on Israel ?