Despite the anti-Israel culture of the BBC, some journalistic blood apparently still flows in their reporter Jane Corbin, who presented a documentary about the Mavi Marmara affair called “Death in the Med” on the Panorama program this week.
Although the program gives far too much exposure to the repulsive American psychopath Ken O’Keefe, the facts of the events that transpired on May 31 are more or less correctly presented. Video of the ‘activists’ cutting up the ship’s rails for weapons, and of course the attack on the soldiers was shown. Near the end, Corbin says,
At the end of the day the bid to break the naval blockade wasn’t really about bringing aid to Gaza. It was a political move designed to put pressure on Israel and the international community. The price was high — nine people died — but the outcry assured that the flotilla achieved its aim: the IHH presented the dead as martyrs for the cause of Gaza.
Heavy stuff for the BBC!
Corbin allows Israeli Gen. Giora Eiland, who led the IDF investigation of the incident, to suggest that the Turkish government was well aware of the violent plans of the ‘activists’. She mentions the UN investigation, but does not draw the reasonable conclusion from the evidence in the program that the Turkish regime should be investigated — and held responsible for the deaths of the nine IHH ‘activists’ as well as the serious injuries to several Israelis.
Although one doesn’t normally congratulate someone for doing their job, the BBC is more like a drug addict that has been screwing his up for some time. It deserves credit for breaking free.
Of course, the usual suspects are absolutely livid. How dare Corbin and the BBC stick up for the Jew Among Nations, whose function is to be beaten bloody (like the naval commandos) for their satisfaction! You can see the comments here (the BBC has removed the usual obscene ones). Although I didn’t count them, about 90% of them refer to the ‘shocking pro-Israeli bias’ of the show, etc.
O’Keefe, apparently a celebrity in the UK (he would be considered a clear nutcase in the US) plans to demonstrate at the BBC this Sunday.
Here are the two parts of the program, about 15 minutes each, if you care to watch.
Technorati Tags: Israel, Mavi Marmara, BBC, Jane Corbin, Ken O’Keefe
I wonder if the BBC would capable of such ‘balance’ if if it were the Arabs, especially the Palestinians and not the Turks who were involved. In any case a bit of fairness is a bit of light, and its not to be cursed.
I find it funny Mondoweiss didn’t even critique it. There’s not enough BS fertilizer for the anti-Zios to bash Israel with. And how far can you really argue with the truth?
The Turkish government owes Israel an apology in light of the BBC report. I am not holding my breath waiting for it to happen.