WBII Statement: Holding the BBC to Account
A newly released report, authored by two distinguished individuals with intimate knowledge of the BBC’s operations—Baroness Deech, former BBC Governor, and Danny Cohen, former Director of BBC Television—should cause profound discomfort within the corporation and among its defenders. This comprehensive investigation lays bare the BBC’s repeated and systemic failures to uphold fundamental journalistic principles: fairness, balance, impartiality, and, most critically, accuracy, particularly in its coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
For far too long, the BBC has cloaked itself in claims of impartiality while exerting immense influence on public opinion. Yet, as this report so clearly illustrates, when it comes to reporting on Israel and related matters, the BBC has consistently fallen short. These lapses are not isolated incidents but indicative of a deep-seated, institutional problem—a refusal, or perhaps even an inability, to deliver the truth.
We Believe In Israel unequivocally supports the conclusions of this report. The era of excuses must now end. The BBC must take full responsibility for the distorted narratives it has perpetuated and address the grave shortcomings exposed by this inquiry. Failure to act decisively will further erode public trust—something the BBC can scarcely afford.
It is crucial that the BBC be held to the highest standards of accountability, especially when dealing with matters as sensitive and far-reaching as the Middle East. The public deserves nothing less than honest reporting, and Israel deserves nothing less than the truth.
