Baby Killers: BBC Butchers the Real Story
March 13, 2011 15:42 by Simon PloskerOnly days after HonestReporting’s Managing Editor wrote about the thread that links Palestinian incitement to inevitable acts of terror, Israel has suffered a shocking and brutal terrorist attack carried out by baby killers. Yet the BBC has still managed to turn this into a story about settlements.
As the JPost reports:
A mother, father and three of their children were stabbed to death late Friday night by at least one suspected terrorist who infiltrated the Itamar settlement southeast of Nablus.
The killings occurred shortly after 10 p.m., when one or two attackers jumped the fence that surrounds Itamar and broke into the home of Ruth and Udi Fogel, aged 35 and 36, respectively. The attackers went room to room, stabbing the parents, a three-month-old girl, Hadas, and two boys, Elad, three, and Yoav, 11.
Clearly, those who are capable of the premeditated murder of babies and children are driven by something far deeper than an aversion to the existence or building of Israeli settlements. There is nothing more innocent than a three-month old. Yet, many media outlets still chose to politicize the horrific slaughter of innocents by focusing less on the despicable act itself and more on making an issue of the location of the attack and dehumanizing the victims as “settlers”.
Note some of the following headlines:
- Suspecting Palestinians, Israeli Military Hunts for Killers of 5 West Bank Settlers – New York Times
- Israeli troops scour West Bank villages for killers of 5 Jewish settlers – Washington Post
But the most shocking and callous treatment of the incident was produced by the BBC. While the news cycle moved on and media outlets turned towards an announcement of approval for construction in Israeli settlements, most at least gave prominence to the appalling details of the terrorist attack even if this became part of a story relating to settlements.
The BBC, however, virtually buried the Fogel family’s massacre, once again demonstrating its obsession with the settlement issue above all other issues relating to the Arab-Israeli Conflict.
No dedicated reportage of the brutal attack was featured elsewhere on the site. Instead, subsumed in a story of settlements, it warrants only a few lines. The BBC does, however, report that the attack “has shocked many Palestinians”. Of course, the BBC failed to mention that Hamas described the attack as a “heroic operation” while sweets and candies were handed out in Gaza in celebration.
The BBC has exercised its own moral judgment that says that the issuing of building permits in settlements is the cause of terror. Otherwise, the story may have included statements from Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu attributing the terror attack to Palestinian incitement.
The BBC has a well-staffed bureau in Jerusalem with the same access as other media outlets. Yet it chose not to publish any photos or specific details of the terror incident.
In the BBC’s world, it is all about the settlements. By politicizing such a heinous terrorist crime perpetrated against a baby, two small children and their parents, the BBC is as guilty as the perpetrators of dehumanizing innocent Israelis based on where they live. For the BBC, it seems that the location of the murders and the stress on how settlements “are held to be illegal under international law” is more important than the murders themselves.
If the BBC ever had any moral compass, it has demonstrated that it has completely lost it. In the BBC’s eyes, there is no moral difference between deliberately murdering innocent babies and the construction of homes in disputed territory. Indeed, for the BBC, the settlement issue at best allows one to “understand” why such an atrocity could take place and at worst, justifies it.
The BBC is by no means the only guilty party in creating an environment where Israeli Jews living in West Bank communities are dehumanized to the point that a three-month old is merely a “settler” – the Palestinian Authority’s continuous incitement in the Palestinian media and education system bear much responsibility. But the international media have bought into this narrative of demonization and helped to create such a toxic environment that the murder of innocents is deemed to be almost acceptable and the human story behind a tragedy is cynically removed.
Send your considered comments to the BBC Complaints website. For more on how to navigate the complaints process, click here for our guide on how to make a complaint to the BBC.
UPDATE
YNet News reports that the director of Israel’s Government Press Office, Oren Helman, has demanded an apology over CNN’s coverage of the terrorist attack:
A CNN website report avoided describing the event as a terror attack, noting that the Israel Defense Forces consider it an act of terrorism. “Only you decided to use the term terrorist attack in quotation marks, as if this were not necessarily the case,” Helman wrote. “There is a limit to the extent of objectivity regarding such a horrific deed.”
CNN has responded, as of 1714 GMT, by removing the quotation marks from the headline and the opening paragraph.
The GPO’s other complaints, however, concerning CNN’s descriptions of the terrorist as an “intruder” or “assailant” have not been addressed at this time.
Send your considered comments to CNN using a feedback form or by joining in the discussion on the comment board below the CNN article.
UPDATE 2
The BBC covered the terrorist attack in an article that was last updated on March 12 at 15:04 GMT. The story was as problematic as CNN’s, using a headline that cast doubt on the circumstances of the terrorist attack through the use of quotations.
The BBC usually links to related materials on later stories such as the settlement one critiqued above. Instead, the story of the terror attack disappeared from the main news pages, including that of the Middle East news where such items usually stay visible online for a period of at least a few days.
So why is it that the BBC’s original coverage of the terror attack, as problematic as it was, does not even appear as a related item at the bottom of the settlement story? Having drawn a link between the building of settlements and the attack, it is extremely surprising that the original story has been omitted. An innocent slip or is there something more sinister behind the scenes at the BBC?
UPDATE 3
Why did Sky News wait over 48 hours to cover the brutal terrorist murder and only then in a story highlighting settlements?
Read more at HR UK’s latest communique – Settlements Trump Baby Killers: Sky’s Skewed Priorities
Leo Costa
3:23 am
Mar 20, 2011
Mrs. Beverly Kurtin:
Can you post the link on the discussion between the muslim and the other man, please? I would like to watch it, or hear it if possible.
Thanks a lot.
Leo.
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Israel fails the earthquake test « Afternoon Tea In Jerusalem
2:03 pm
Mar 20, 2011
[...] did not consider it a terror incident at first. The BBC downplayed the act. Sky ignored the story [...]
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Trish Wherritt
9:47 am
Mar 21, 2011
I am so disgusted with the CNN and the BBC and their repulsive reporting. The only things that keeps me looking ahead is that the G_d of Israel is sovereign and He will deal with these people. They will have to give an answer to Him and Him alone. My deepest sympathies go to the families. I am deeply sadden for the terrorists as they are so deceived. May Elohim reveal Himself to them and when they repent and come and worship Him, He will show will show His mercy and grace towards them.
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Cynthia Cuomo
10:37 am
Mar 21, 2011
Ever… so slightly off topic, but I would like to pass a bit of information to those of you who would be interested in trying to rid FaceBook, ((ONCE AGAIN)) of a Palestinian group calling for the “THIRD PALESTINIAN INTIFADA”. It was not more than 1/2 hr. ago that FaceBook took their site down because of so many of us reporting them,well they’re up and running again. Please please, try to increase the awareness of this groups evil intentions,on FaceBook- go to; DELETE THE TERRORIST HATE GROUP “THIRD PALESTINIAN INTIFADA”.Join – and please post the group logo on your FaceBook page. It’s bright red-very easily seen. Maybe, hopefully, if we all can all band together, we can continually report them, keep shutting them down. If anybody is aware of any other Palestinian hate groups on FaceBook, would you be kind enough to post it here?
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Baby Killers Update: BBC Responds to HR Criticism | The Conservative Papers
12:24 am
Mar 22, 2011
[...] criticism of the BBC’s coverage of the brutal terrorist murders of the Fogel family prompted a huge number of complaints to the BBC [...]
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Bruria Bodek
4:42 am
Apr 04, 2011
I hold both the BBc and the LA Times accerories to murder, hen equating the horrific murder of five innocent human beings, and buildings of residents.
Goldstone had caused horrible damadge and suffering to innocent Jews arround the word. The best solution for him is actually to COMMIT SUISIDE. His sin is unforgivable by humans, God is the only one to do such think so Just GO to it.
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Note to MSM: Replace the Word “Settlers” with “Family” - Blog
3:31 am
Mar 26, 2011
[...] “settlers;” that “S word” dominated headline after headline after headline, while the BBC placed politics ahead of murder. (Sky News skewed priorities too.) The Fogels were a [...]
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» Baby Killers Update: BBC Responds to HR Criticism Freedom Alert!: Defending American Freedom by exposing Radical Islam, Socialist, Liberals, and all the Enemies of Freedom, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness!
4:47 pm
Mar 27, 2011
[...] Responds to HR Criticism Posted in March 27th, 2011 by admin in Media Bias HonestReporting’s criticism of the BBC’s coverage of the brutal terrorist murders of the Fogel family prompted a huge number of complaints to the BBC [...]
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Scott
11:26 pm
Mar 30, 2011
Previous comment was for ‘Fair To All’ [cough] ….
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Scott
8:30 am
Apr 04, 2011
Ever notice that it’s ONLY THE JEWS who don’t try to force their religion on everyone else? Patricia, give us a break! Don’t love us, just admire us from afar or something. Your prosthelytizing in a topic of a murdered Israeli family is disgusting. Don’t force the religion you ripped from ours down our throats.
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patricia jones
10:19 am
Apr 04, 2011
AWWWW SCOTT – NO ONE AT HOME TO LISTEN TO YOUR INANE RAVINGS??
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Scott
11:28 pm
Apr 04, 2011
You lose Troll …. now get lost!
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Gary Katz
4:49 pm
Apr 04, 2011
The BBC subject has left the building.
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Scott
11:36 pm
Apr 04, 2011
The Fogel family was murdered due to religious intolerance. Posters who use the HR Forum to push jesus on the rest of us are demonstrating they lack the self-control to avoid using a tragedy in Israel to push their own religious intolerance on the rest of us. Such posters should be banned.
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daniel
10:23 pm
May 25, 2011
The reason Jews have been hated throughout history is because we will not bow to false religion. We have proven that we would rather go to our graves than accept religious counterfeits. The founders of these false religions knew that they would lose any fair open minded comparison with Judaism so they preemptively brainwashed their adherents with slander and hatred for Jews. By branding Udi and Ruth Fogel and their children Hadas, Elad, and Yoav as “settlers” the media perpetrates the murderous slander of false religion by making the existence of this family the crime. The perpetrators of these obscene murders were not insane, they were faithfully following the edicts of their religion. The Fogel family must be honored as true hero and heroines for all humanity by exposing the true nature of false religion at the cost of their lives. As long as there is one Jew standing who will not bow to the murderous intimidation and terror of false religionists, Jews will be hated and some justification will be found for our extermination.
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Cynthia Cuomo
8:02 am
May 26, 2011
@ Scott- Your abhorrent comments directed to my dear and long time friend Patricia, are very erroneous, and a most disgraceful charge to make. Patricia has never once “pushed Jesus”, nor prosthelytized her religion, Christianity, toward me or for that matter anybody else that I know. You have’nt a clue as to her extreme devotion, and her understanding of our plight as Jews,her standing up for Israel/Zionism to the enth degree.. If we Jews were to ever wish for a more tolerant person, a person who has given endless years of her life, helping Jews selflessly, we could,nt want for a better person than my dear friend Patricia. I had,nt glanced at these postings since my last in March. I was quite upset, at both yours and Daniels very hostile and very anti-Christian remarks. We as Jews, surely have known anti-Semitism, and for most of us, a life times worth. Religion surely is a very sensitive subject. I myself have become more defensive, and more than angry at what I perceive to be anti-Semitism at every turn. I realize now more than ever how it is hard to discern who of other religions are for us, and who are against us. I see just how easily we can slip into the very same way of behavior, as cruel, and as wrong as the people who hate us are. We all should, myself included, not jump to false conclusions. Of course there are many out in force who are prostheltizing, this is absolutely true from my experience. But to carry on, and mistakingly see every Christian as “shoving” their religion down our throats, because of their belief in Jesus Christ as their Lord and saviour, does,nt make it correct to collectively blame all non-Jews.To have accused, and insulted Patricia, by stating that her religion was “ripped” from ours, is to behave no differently than our enemies. Patricia has been very unfairly misjudged and mistreated, by both of you, Scott and Daniel.
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Scott
8:12 am
May 26, 2011
With friends like you and Patricia Israel doesn’t need enemies. Don’t piss in my ear and tell me it’s raining. Someone who uses the murder of a Jewish family by INTOLERANT terrorists to promote her own INTOLERANCE is a sicko. I got your friend Patricia’s number. And yours. Neither are very high.
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daniel
9:43 am
May 26, 2011
Thank you Cynthia, you made my point. I purposely did not name any religion to emphasize the characteristics of false religion. As it has been said: “If the shoe fits wear it.” I equally take exception with the so-called pro-Israel Christians whose real agenda is to “Complete” Jews by getting us to turn away from Torah by accepting their Nicean trinitarian paganized Jesus. Who celebrate a Jew’s abandonment of Torah with almost as much relish as the Gazan Muslims celibrated the deaths of the Fogel family. Time will tell just how sincere their love is when we have taken all they have to offer and still refuse to bow.
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Cynthia Cuomo
10:49 am
May 26, 2011
Scott- for whatever it’s worth, I have to tell you, that it is you that gives us a bad name. I am an Israeli Jew-I have lived in Israel for 45 yrs.I have experienced the horrors of war first hand.I was a soldier fighting on the front lines for my countries freedom, as did my husband and children. Don,t tell me who I am, and don,t you dare tell me that I,m not a friend of Israel, I love my country.So don,t you piss in my ear and tell me its raining. Daniel, not everybody is trying to convert you, Not every Christian is trying to get you to abandon the Torah. Nobody could ever get me to abandon the Torah.I,m not a weak minded person.
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patricia jones
11:21 am
May 26, 2011
SCOTT FREELOADER IS JUST THAT. FREELOADING HIS INANE RAMBLINGS ONTO AN INTERESTING NEWS POST. WHAT HE SEEKS TO DO IS TWIST THE TRUTH TO MAKE TRAPS FOR FOOLS. WELL HE IS NOT SUCCEEDING. HIS WARPED MIND IS EVIDENT IN HIS RAMBLINGS AND WE WOULD DO WELL TO IGNORE HIS PETULANT OUTBURSTS. YOU NEVER ‘GOT OUR NUMBER’ SCOTTY BECAUSE YOU CAN’T COUNT AND NEITHER CAN YOU UNDERSTAND THE RUDIMENTS OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT…….SO ON YOUR BIKE YOU CRETIN.
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Scott
7:11 pm
May 26, 2011
Cynthia,
See the post above mine. This is your friend, a raving lunatic who just had another outburst. Once again because you are a sloooow learner — This thread was made underneath an article that bemoaned media coverage of the deliberate slaughter of an Israeli family by a bunch of radical islamist animals. They were killed because they were Jews. Your so-called friend, a radical christian, could not keep her filthy mouth from using this platform to proselytize jesus christ. If you can’t see something wrong with that then there’s something wrong with you.
And that’s beside the obvious fact that jesus christ was the worst thing that ever hapened to the Jews.
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patricia jones
6:37 am
May 27, 2011
Scott – you cannot be a Christian or Jew – no-one who has any compassion for mankind could utter words loaded with such venom. Be careful because what you say may indeed come back to bite you on the ass…….. Such a pity you do not allow Christ into your heart – you could do with all the help you can garner. Have a great day Scott – try to relax and don’t let your bad temper overcome you.
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