A leader in the UK Jewish community seeks the removal of the BBC’s Jeremy Bowen (pictured) from his position as Mideast editor. The Jerusalem Post writes:
Andrew Balcombe, chairman of the Zionist Federation of Britain and Ireland, has written to the chair of the BBC Trust, Dr Chitra Bharucha, following a leaked e-mail Bowen sent last month that questions Bowen’s impartiality as he appears to put the onus of blame for the violence in the region on Israel. The Middle East editor blames the “fragmentation of Palestinian society” on the “death of hope” citing Israel as the reason for this….
Balcombe said that Bowen is a hugely experienced and accomplished journalist and certainly the BBC can use his talents in another international location but suggested that an experience in 2000 has “colored” Bowen’s view of Israel.
“In May 2000, Bowen’s driver Abd al-Rahman Taqqush was mistakenly killed by an Israeli tank shell during fighting in South Lebanon. Bowen was only several metres away and no matter his professionalism, this disturbing incident may have colored Bowen’s views about Israel ever since,” Balcombe said.
Developing….
