Complaint
A viewer complained the programme failed to include important background information on Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories and the history of the region, thus failing to convey to viewers “how long the Palestinian people have suffered under this occupation”. The ECU considered whether the interview met the standards for impartiality set out in the BBC Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
This was a brief report on the expansion of settlement building in the occupied West Bank. It focused on current events, and the direct relevance to audience understanding of the longer history of the region had to be judged accordingly. The ECU acknowledged such history might be significant and cast light on the current situation but disagreed it was necessary to include such information in this context for due impartiality to be maintained.
Not Upheld