By News Editor Declan Wilkes
The London Daily News
The London Daily News has learned there is an informal news blackout at BBC Radio over the mounting public outrage following the Gaza incursion by Israeli troops.
According to sources, radio station phone in’s have been screening out any callers wanting to talk about the Israeli air strikes and ground offensives in the Middle East.
The BBC’s Have Your Say comment sites are being heavily moderated – its main board ‘How can a truce be achieved in Gaza?’ has had half of its 4,500 comments rejected on the basis of defamation, incitement to crime and hate, harassment, abuse, threats, harmful, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, homophobic or racially offensive language.
On the board ‘Are the Israeli strikes on Gaza justified?’ Half of the 5,000 comments have also been removed for breaking the House Rules stated above.
Radio ban
Producers and presenters have been told to ’stay away’ from the subject despite thousands taking to the streets the past few weeks in protest and support of the military action that has seen 600 killed and just recently 40 dead from an air strike at a school.
The self imposed ban has also been reflected in commercial radio with stations like Talksport rarely wanting to broach the subject and many others clearly steering away from on-air debates on the topic. LBC has attempted to tackle the subject with on air debates.
Why?
Radio bosses are keen not to enflame the situation and leave themselves open to accusations of bias toward one side or another – the Beeb, still reeling from the Jonathan Ross affair is in no mood for any controversy.
Also there is a responsible editorial reason behind the scaling back of listener comment.
Today we reported on the increase of anti-Semitism on London’s streets, the attempted torching of a Synagogue, 24 attacks in total and the appearance of sickening graffiti saying “Kill Jews” and “Jews are scumbags” across the city.
By taking the heat out of the debate it cools an already charged atmosphere, though that will have no effect on the most agitated and likely to let their feelings spill out on the street in direct action.
The denying of debate in a public forum such as the BBC could also leave organisations open to accusations of curtailing freedom of expression.
‘We’ll kill Jews abroad’
Tension is high in London between Jewish areas of Golders Green, North Finchely, Stanmore, Stanford Hill and St John’s Wood which are receiving extra “reassurance patrols” by police and Muslim areas of West Ham, Tower Hamlets, Southall, Hackney, Stoke Newington and Camden.
The heightened sensitivity on the airwaves and chat rooms comes in the wake of chilling comments by the Hamas leader that they will kill Jewish children anywhere in the world in revenge for the devastating attacks of the past few weeks. Mahmoud Zahar said:
“They have legitimised the murder of their own children by killing the children of Palestine. They have legitimised the killing of their people all over the world by killing our people.”
Speaking to the Times, Mark Gardner, of the Jewish charity Community Security Trust, warned Jews:
“When the Hamas leadership calls for revenge attacks on Jewish people, we have to be very, very concerned about what that means.”
Violent embassy protests
Meanwhile pro-Palestinian protesters continue to mass outside the Israeli embassy in a demo they vow will last all week despite the plunging temperatures.
A wave of anti-Israeli feeling spread over the city this weekend when large rallies were held across the city culminating in angry exchanges and clashes with the police as they fought to protect the Kensington embassy from attack.
Hundreds of demonstrators ripped up and hurled barriers threw sticks and missiles and attempted to rush the building.
Roads were closed and police in riot gear had to contain the 5,000 strong crowds on Kensington High Street. Protesters burned the Israeli flag and labeled the country a terrorist state.
Police say they are working with Muslims to insure protests pass off peacefully with non confrontational stewarding methods.
Jews under attack across Europe
Jews are on their guard across the continent as young disaffected Muslims bring the conflict in the Middle East to the capitals of Europe.
In Paris on Saturday riot police had to separate the 25,000 pro-Palestinian and 4,000 pro-Israeli demonstrators outside the Israeli embassy.
The National Bureau of Vigilance Against Anti-Semitism in France reported petrol bomb and hate attacks on synagogues, there have been similar reports in Belgium.
Also See:
Gaza Killing Sparks Attacks On Jews In Europe
Call To Stop Arming Israeli Jews
Israel Created Hamas to Split Palestine
Why Hamas and Hizbullah Will be Difficult to Defeat
America’s Hidden Role in Hamas’s Rise to Power
Gaza Invasion – Part Of A Broader Israeli Agenda
Gaza Massacre: The Truth About Those Hamas Rockets
CIA, Mossad Infiltrated Muslim Organizations
Americans Have Learned the Wrong Lesson from the Holocaust
Unconventional Weapons against The People of Gaza
Depleted uranium found in Gaza victims
Gaza Horror: Large Photo Gallery of Gaza Massacre by Israel
Zionist Israel Is Run By Terrorists
Video: Peace, Propaganda and the Promised Land
Video: A just-leaked cell phone video of Israel’s atrocity in Gaza
Jewry’s Crushing Silence On Gaza
Israeli Air Strikes Hurt Obama, Help Ahmedinajad
Gaza Carnage Continues; Death Toll Rises To 390
Video: Anti-Zionist Jews who lived in Palestine tell their story
In Pictures: Massacre of Gazan Children
Shock, Awe and Lies: The Truth Behind the Israeli Attack on Gaza
Al Qaeda is More of a U.S. Propaganda Campaign than a Real Organization
Zionist Rulers of Saudi Arabia
Video: Gaza Airstrikes – Did Israel target School Children?
Video: Israel launches attack on Gaza, kills 210, injures 900+
Israel May Attack Iran Soon Before President Obama Takes Over
Arabs’ Deadly Silence: All Quiet on the Gaza Shore
Israelis Block Medical Care – 271 Gazans Now Dead
Gaza families eat grass as Israel locks border
3 Comments
January 7, 2009 at 10:48 pm
MP3 Telephone interview with Uri Avnery, the leader of the biggest peace movement in Israel: Gush Shalom.
12 minutes
http://morris108.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/gaza-mp3-telephone-interview-with-uri-avneri-evening-jan-07-2008/
January 8, 2009 at 9:10 am
Why is Gaza constantly hyped so much – at the moment I can understand as its a live conflict – but what about the others? The slaughter in Sudan? Event he US has moved to condemn it. Or the forgotten campaigns against Muslims in Burma and China?
January 8, 2009 at 9:18 am
Of course, anyone can scribble a few silly words on a wall as justification for claims of rising anti Jewish feelings. In reality it is not Jews that many have a problem with, but Zionist Israel, which is a terror state.
I’m not surprised France has an agency dedicated to defending Zionists. Many more countries will find these appearing in the months and years ahead. Very soon even to criticize Israel will be illegal. For such a small country it seems to hold improbable influence over many country’s political classes.