Middle East - Objective Reporting?

Well done to the BBC for its objective reporting of the border clashes in the Middle East on Radio 4’s Today Programme this morning. John Humphrys reported that there was great anger among Palestinians in the Middle East over how Israel reacted when Palestinian demonstrators massed on Israel’s borders yesterday: twelve were shot dead and many more were injured. The demonstrations were timed to mark the 63rd anniversary of the creation of the state of Israel. Some of the demonstrators crossed the border into Israel and some of the demonstrators were throwing stones. We also learned from an interview included in the BBC’s report that Lebanese forces also opened fire.

By comparison, other reports have referred only to Nakba Day with no mention Yom Ha'atzmaut.

This is the Guardian:

Demonstrators commemorating Nakba day, marking the 1948 war in which hundreds of thousands of people became refugees after being forced out of their homes, were met with live gunfire, rubber bullets, stun grenades and teargas.

And here is how it should have been done (from The Times):

During protests to mark the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel, described by Palestinians as the Nakba, or “catastrophe”, unprecedented numbers turned out at the three hostile frontiers in scenes that quickly turned to carnage.

Solidarity With Israel Protest For Peace

A couple of my friends told me to watch out when I said I would be attending the Solidarity With Israel call for peace today in Trafalgar Square. But I said I was sure that this crowd would not have a violent mob at its head and would be calling for peace by acting peacefully. And that is precisely how the thousands of protesters behaved this morning - with civility, respect and a genuine compassion for peace and an end to death and suffering for the civilians of Gaza and Israel.

The speakers called for an end to the violence and suffering endured by Gazans and Israelis, an end to Hamas terror and a peaceful existence for Palestinians and Israelis living side by side. I couldn't make out what the lone counter-protester with his own loud-hailer was shouting at Chief Rabbi Dr Sir Jonathan Sacks, but it was gesticulated with rage. I wonder if the young man could hear what Rabbi Sacks was saying? Thousands of us were echoing Rabbi Sacks' words: "Yes to Peace". It saddened me that the young man with the loud-hailer couldn't hear what we were all saying to him.

I was particularly pleased that there were Christian messages of support, such as the one expressed by the Bishop of Manchester which was read out to the reported 35,000 of us in Trafalgar Square, and that there were words of support from Sikh and Hindu representatives. It would have been great if there had been a message of peace for Isrealis and Palestinians from a Muslim representative at a rally that was not calling for peace by advocating the destruction of Israel. I wonder why that didn't happen?

Obama and Hamas

I was happy to read the frontpage headline in today's Guardian: "Obama camp ready to open up dialogue with Hamas". A new strategy that is to be welcomed.

George Bush has condemned Hamas from his Washington pulpit, but won't step outside it. I have hope that Obama is a braver and bolder man. Isolating Hamas, as if the power behind the movement was vermin and not people, has not worked.

I was amazed and moved that Jeremy Paxman actually managed to get a Hamas spokesman to say at the very end of an interview via telephone link on Newnight on Tuesday that they would stop rocket fire if Israel stopped. That is a leap forward! All I had been hearing from Hamas up until then was that they would carry on regardless. Imagine what could happen if they were involved in diplomatic negotiations on par with Isreal.

It is good news that Obama is "widely thought" to want to "adopt a more even-handed approach", as the Guardian report states, when he is President.