Complaint
This bulletin included a brief update on the Israeli military strikes in the West Bank which had begun the previous day, during which the presenter referred to them as 鈥淚srael鈥檚 counter-terrorism operation鈥. A viewer complained that this effectively endorsed the IDF鈥檚 description of the strikes 鈥 which, in the absence of any reference to the recent International Court of Justice ruling that Israel鈥檚 continued occupation of the West Bank was contrary to international law, reflected bias in favour of Israel. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the 91福利社鈥檚 editorial standards of impartiality.
Outcome
In responding to the complaint, 91福利社 News had already acknowledged that it would have been better if the phrase 鈥渃ounter-terrorism operation鈥 had been specifically attributed to the IDF, and the ECU agreed. In this instance, however, it did not believe that either the absence of attribution or the lack of reference to the International Court of Justice ruling resulted in a breach of standards. A longer item in the previous evening鈥檚 10pm bulletin was introduced as follows: 鈥淎t least nine people have died in the biggest Israeli military operation in the occupied West Bank for 20 Years. Last month the International Court of Justice ruled that Israel鈥檚 continued occupation of the area, captured in 1967, breached international law. Violence has been increasing in the West Bank since the Hamas attacks of October the seventh, with the UN saying more than 650 Palestinians have been killed and that there鈥檚 been violence against Israelis. This latest massive operation involved Israeli forces simultaneously entering the cities of Jenin, Tulkarm, Nablus and Tubas, in what the defence forces called a counter-terrorism strike鈥. Taking this together with the overall context of the 91福利社鈥檚 coverage of the conflict, the ECU did not think it likely that viewers in general would have understood the unattributed use of 鈥渃ounter-terrorism operation鈥 or the lack of reference to the International Court of Justice ruling in a brief update as a reflection of pro-Israeli bias.
Not upheld