Jerusalem Terror Attack: BBC Headline Shocker

The BBC publishes a shocking headline in response to a fatal Palestinian stabbing attack in Jerusalem's Old City.

By Simon Plosker October 04, 2015

Two Israeli men were fatally stabbed in Jerusalem’s Old City on Saturday evening. The Palestinian attacker was shot dead by security forces after he opened fire on them. The wife of one of the victims and their two-year-old baby were lightly wounded.

How did the BBC initially report on the attack?

 

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Notice how the main focus of the headline is the death of the Palestinian perpetrator who is “shot dead,” effectively turning the terrorist into the victim.

And what is a “Jerusalem attack?” Cities don’t attack people. In this case, the BBC cannot bring itself to apportion responsibility to a Palestinian. Nor does it state that the actual victims of the attack were Israeli Jews.

Disturbing, yes. Surprising, no. The BBC has a history of publishing headlines where Palestinian terrorists are sanitized to the point that inanimate objects such as bulldozers are held responsible for killing Israelis.

While the headline was eventually changed, presumably as a result of outrage on social media, it is appalling that such an initial response could have been published at all.

 

ISRAELI LIVES MATTER – SIGN OUR PETITION TO THE BBC

We demand that the BBC issues an apology and takes steps to prevent a recurrence. Headlines describing terrorist attacks must make clear who are the terrorist and who are the victims.

Please sign our complaint to the BBC and let them know that Israeli Lives Matter. Click on the image below.

 

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[sc:bottomsignup ]

 

© Divuach Ne’eman R”A, 2025

Simon Plosker

Simon Plosker

With over two decades of experience in various non-governmental organizations in the UK and Israel, Simon Plosker returned to HonestReporting in October 2022 as Editorial Director having previously been part of the organization’s management team from 2005 to 2020.

Prior to his first spell at HonestReporting, Simon worked in Israel for NGO Monitor, BICOM, and served for a short period in the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit. He was Managing Editor of the Geneva-based NGO United Nations Watch for two years before moving back to the frontline defending Israel from media bias.

Simon has a BSoc.Sc in International Studies and Political Science from the University of Birmingham and an MSc in History of International Relations from the London School of Economics. He immigrated to Israel in 2001 from London.

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