The controversy is growing across the Channel, where the BBC, the prestigious British public broadcasting group, is attracting criticism because of its treatment of the war between Hamas and Israel. The broadcaster is one of the only media outlets to refuse to label Hamas a terrorist organization since its bloody attack on Israel on October 7. And this, while the demonstrations in the United Kingdom, whether pro-Israeli or in support of the Palestinian people, are taking place in a tense climate.
John Simpson, editor-in-chief of the international service and renowned journalist, wanted to defend the positioning of the BBC in an article published on October 12: the word “terrorism” has, according to him, “connotations”, and the group wants to demonstrate impartiality in covering the conflict. His comments, however, did not calm the critics, far from it. Some voices point to a lack of lucidity on the part of the BBC, and warn of the consequences that such media treatment can have on the rise of anti-Semitism. Like Lucinda Creichton, former Irish Minister for European Affairs, now vice-president of the European People’s Party and advisor to the Counter Extremism Project, an American think tank. Interview.
L’Express: The BBC explained that it did not want to qualify Hamas as a terrorist organization for reasons of impartiality. What exactly is their argument based on?
Lucinda Creichton : I read the article explaining John Simpson’s position. For him, the word “terrorism”, or at least the organizational label “terrorist”, is a term loaded with connotation. In other words, it would have some kind of meaning that goes beyond its strict legal meaning. The BBC proclaims its desire to remain neutral, and to position itself above any political bias. However, this same media has not always applied this principle: during the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017, the BBC used the word terrorist several times, both in the headlines and in the content of the broadcasts. Press articles. The same term was also used for the Bataclan attacks in Paris in 2015, and those in Brussels in 2016. Why then apply a special rule when it concerns the Middle East? Maybe because they have more sympathy for Hamas…
Furthermore, regarding the murder of two Swedish citizens last night in Brussels, the BBC immediately used the word “terrorist” in the title of the main article… But quickly realized its inconsistency and subsequently deleted it . This shows that the BBC editorial team has realized the hypocrisy they display towards Hamas in the Middle East, unlike the treatment reserved for other fundamentalist Islamist terrorist groups like Daesh or ISIS when they strike on European soil.
What do you think are the roots of this “sympathy” towards Hamas on the part of the BBC, in its media treatment of the conflict?
It’s probably unconscious. This is, in my view, a prejudice fueled by a growing antipathy towards the State of Israel, and perhaps by an underlying rise in anti-Semitic sentiment in British society. Of course, I am not calling the BBC and its journalists anti-Semitic, but the ambient atmosphere is undoubtedly an explanatory factor.
However, this is a political position that the BBC is taking. She fears the potential backlash she would face from left-wing intellectuals in the UK, or from left-wing organizations we have seen on the streets in recent weeks condemning Israel and supporting Palestine, and by extension Hamas .
This kind of thinking has infiltrated British society and discourse, but also the BBC. The fact that it has allowed itself to be politicized in this way over the past week is disappointing for a public service broadcaster.
Have other British media or institutions refused to designate Hamas as a terrorist organisation?
On Sky TV or ITV, for example, journalists describe Hamas as a terrorist organization, as indicated by the UN or even British and American national legislation… And almost those of all democratic Western countries. This is absolutely not an exception from the British Conservative government.
What do you think will be the consequences for British politics and the left?
Clearly, the treatment of Jewish citizens in the UK is a problem that has grown in recent years. Anti-Semitic attacks, both verbal and physical, actually come from both the far left and the far right, where both camps share the same narratives about Jews. All this contributes to further polarizing the debate in the United Kingdom, as already shown by the violent clashes in the streets of London, or even in several European countries and the United States, since the Hamas attack on Israel.
Within the far left in particular, there is an attempt to condemn the massacre of innocent civilians, but at the same time, to somehow explain the atrocities of Hamas and justify them. Political figures from all parties should position themselves to not tolerate any justification for Hamas’ actions. Regarding the Labor Party, given the anti-Semitism that was endemic under Jeremy Corbyn, it seems to be heading in the right direction with its current leader and potential future Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer. The latter really worked to clean up the politicians who were increasing the number of anti-Semitic speeches within the Party. This effort must continue, by condemning the actions of Hamas, which must be treated, precisely, as a terrorist organization.
So there is a real problem with the media coverage and political treatment of terrorist issues in the United Kingdom…
Yes it’s sure. The root of the problem is the inconsistency in dealing with Hamas and other terrorist acts. However, terrorist organizations and attacks should be treated and qualified in the same way. There should not be special treatment for certain terrorist groups simply because of their political affiliation, especially from the left.
Do you think the British Conservative government could go as far as banning pro-Palestinian demonstrations, as is the case in France?
This would, in my opinion, be very surprising. The UK has a long history of free, open and peaceful protests. Citizens have the right to express sympathy for the Palestinian people and the Palestinian state. If the British police were to break up such demonstrations, they would do so if people displayed pro-Hamas propaganda or chanted Hamas slogans. Anything that explicitly supports a terrorist group is illegal in the UK. But as far as supporting Palestine and the Palestinian people, I think that will continue to be allowed and I see no reason to prevent it if these protests are peaceful and respectful.