What the BBC did as 5000 protested over its pro-Israeli bias: interviewed Tony Blair
Stop the War Coalition 15 July 2014. Posted in News
As Israel resumed its bombardment of Gaza, over 5000 blockaded the BBC in protest at its Gaza reporting. And what was the BBC doing? Interviewing Tony Blair about Gaza.
PROTESTERS ACCUSED the BBC of “anti-Palestinian bias” in its reporting of the Gaza conflict as they staged a demonstration outside the corporation’s central London headquarters.
Crowds chanted “BBC, shame on you” by New Broadcasting House near Oxford Circus this evening in a protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop and War and the CND.
It came as a proposed ceasefire deal brokered by Egypt collapsed.
Israeli forces resumed bombing just hours after the ceasefire came into effect this morning as the country’s eight-day conflict with Hamas saw the Palestinian death toll approach 200.
In a statement posted online ahead of the demonstration, organisers said: “As a publicly funded broadcaster the BBC is duty-bound to provide balanced reporting without bias.
“Once again Gaza is under massive aerial bombardment from Israeli warplanes and drones, and, once again, the BBC’s reporting of these assaults is entirely devoid of context or background.”
Source: Evening Standard
Tony Blair’s mouthing Israeli propaganda on the BBC as 5000 demonstrate against pro-Israeli coverage
As the 5000 protesters were outside Broadcasting House, demanding that the BBC stop acting as the mouthpiece for Israeli propaganda, what was the BBC doing?
It was interviewing Tony Blair, who was given three uncontested minutes to present Israel’s justification for mass murder and war crimes.
Over 200 people have been killed, most of them civilians, according to the United Nations, close to 1500 more have been injured, and 800 homes destroyed.
As Blair supported “Israel’s right to defend itself”, the Israeli military was dropping leaflets, telling 100,000 residents in the north of Gaza City to evacuate the area – announcing effectively it is going to carpet-bomb the area.
The BBC interviewer’s only response was to wonder lamely whether Israel’s bombardment of the most densely populated place on earth, killing dozens of women and children, might be “disproportionate”. Blair’s reply was to continue reading from his script written by the Israeli press office.
If you can bear it, watch the interview with Tony Blair here…
5000 demonstrate outside BBC Broadcasting House
Jermaine Jackson from Jackson 5 at the BBC demonstration
NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION
Stop the Bombing – Stop the Killing
Saturday 19 July • Assemble 12 Noon
Downing Street • London SW1A 2AA
More details…
River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian
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