Throughout the month of December 2019, sixteen 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 carried over from the previous month and some of which also appeared on other pages.
(dates indicate the time period during which the item was available on the ‘Middle East’ page)
One report concerned external security issues:
Israel-Iran: Risk of an all-out conflict grows after Syria strikes Jonathan Marcus (20/11/19 to 26/11/19 and 28/11/19 to 1/12/19)
One item related to political/legal issues:
ICC wants to open ‘war crimes’ investigation in West Bank and Gaza (21/12/19 to 23/12/19) discussed here
One item concerned archaeology:
Israelis find rare Roman fish sauce factory (17/12/19 to 20/12/19)
Four reports related to religion/Christmas/Palestinians:
Jesus manger: Relic returns to Bethlehem in time for Christmas (30/11/19 to 5/12/19)
Saint Barbara: A celebration for Arab Christians Barbara Plett Usher (17/12/19 to 31/12/19) discussed here
Banksy ‘nativity scene’ appears in Bethlehem hotel (21/12/19 to 23/12/19) discussed here
The Christians helping Bethlehem shepherd families give birth safely (25/12 /19 to present) discussed here
Of nine items relating to internal Israeli internal affairs, three concerned politics:
Israel will hold unprecedented third election in a year (12/12/19 to 17/12/19) discussed here
Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu in party leadership challenge (26/12/19) discussed here and here
Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu comfortably wins party leadership challenge (27/12/19 to 30/12/19) discussed here
Four reports concerned legal/criminal cases, of which two related to a case in Cyprus in which Israelis had been released without charge in July, yet the BBC continued to publish reports on the website’s ‘Middle East’ page:
Netanyahu: Corruption charges an ‘attempted coup’ (21/11/19 to 4/12/19 and 6/12/19 to 9/12/19)
Israel’s deportation of Human Rights Watch activist condemned (25/11/19 to 2/12/19) discussed here
Ayia Napa Briton found guilty over false rape claim (30/12/19 to 31/12/19)
Ayia Napa: Foreign Office ‘concerned’ over Briton found guilty over rape claim (31/12/19 to present)
Two reports concerned social issues:
How Beitar Jerusalem’s football club owner took on racism and won Alex Capstick (20/12/19 to 1/1/20) discussed here
Beitar Jerusalem: How do you change ‘the most racist’ club in Israel? Alex Capstick (20/12/19 to 26/12/19) discussed here
The BBC News website continues its practice of reporting Israeli affairs far more extensively than it does internal Palestinian internal affairs. All of the December reporting concerning Palestinians came within the framework of one-sided Christmas coverage.
Related Articles:
Summary of BBC News website portrayal of Israel and the Palestinians – November 2019
Summary of BBC News website portrayal of Israel and the Palestinians – October 2019
Summary of BBC News website portrayal of Israel and the Palestinians – September 2019
Summary of BBC News website portrayal of Israel and the Palestinians – August 2019
Summary of BBC News website portrayal of Israel and the Palestinians – July 2019
Summary of BBC News website portrayal of Israel and the Palestinians – June 2019
Summary of BBC News website portrayal of Israel and the Palestinians – May 2019
Summary of BBC News website portrayal of Israel and the Palestinians – April 2019
Summary of BBC News website portrayal of Israel and the Palestinians – March 2019
Summary of BBC News website portrayal of Israel and the Palestinians – February 2019
Summary of BBC News website portrayal of Israel and the Palestinians – January 2019
