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| Sky joins BBC in Gaza appeal veto | Sky joins BBC in Gaza appeal veto |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Sky has joined the BBC in deciding not to broadcast a charity appeal for Gaza, despite mounting political and public pressure for them to do so. | Sky has joined the BBC in deciding not to broadcast a charity appeal for Gaza, despite mounting political and public pressure for them to do so. |
| BBC boss Mark Thompson has again defended the decision, saying it would jeopardise the BBC's impartiality. | BBC boss Mark Thompson has again defended the decision, saying it would jeopardise the BBC's impartiality. |
| Sky News said running the Disasters Emergency Committee advert was "incompatible" with its objective role. | Sky News said running the Disasters Emergency Committee advert was "incompatible" with its objective role. |
| More than 50 MPs say they will back a parliamentary motion urging the BBC and Sky to run the appeal. | More than 50 MPs say they will back a parliamentary motion urging the BBC and Sky to run the appeal. |
| Meanwhile, activist group Stop the War Coalition launched a demonstration at BBC Broadcasting House in central London. | Meanwhile, activist group Stop the War Coalition launched a demonstration at BBC Broadcasting House in central London. |
| Around 20 people walked into the lobby with a large banner proclaiming Hands off Gaza, before being removed by police and continuing a noisy protest outside. | Around 20 people walked into the lobby with a large banner proclaiming Hands off Gaza, before being removed by police and continuing a noisy protest outside. |
| Come on Auntie Beeb. Wake up and get on with it Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York Mark Thompson on Gaza appealThe humanitarian battleBBC Gaza appeal row reactionPapers on appeal rowSky statement in full A number of them set fire to their television licences. | Come on Auntie Beeb. Wake up and get on with it Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York Mark Thompson on Gaza appealThe humanitarian battleBBC Gaza appeal row reactionPapers on appeal rowSky statement in full A number of them set fire to their television licences. |
| ITV broadcast the appeal, which will also go out on Channel 4 and Five, on Monday evening. | ITV broadcast the appeal, which will also go out on Channel 4 and Five, on Monday evening. |
| John Ryley, head of Sky News, said: "The conflict in Gaza forms part of one of the most challenging and contentious stories for any news organisation to cover. | John Ryley, head of Sky News, said: "The conflict in Gaza forms part of one of the most challenging and contentious stories for any news organisation to cover. |
| "Our commitment as journalists is to cover all sides of that story with uncompromising objectivity." | "Our commitment as journalists is to cover all sides of that story with uncompromising objectivity." |
| Criticism over the BBC's decision not to air the appeal has come from archbishops, government ministers, charity leaders and 11,000 viewers. | Criticism over the BBC's decision not to air the appeal has come from archbishops, government ministers, charity leaders and 11,000 viewers. |
| The DEC, which represents more than a dozen aid agencies, is asking for money to buy food, medicine and blankets following the Israeli assault on Gaza. | The DEC, which represents more than a dozen aid agencies, is asking for money to buy food, medicine and blankets following the Israeli assault on Gaza. |
| But Mr Thompson, the BBC director general said the corporation could not give the impression it was "backing one side" over the other. | But Mr Thompson, the BBC director general said the corporation could not give the impression it was "backing one side" over the other. |
| He said it was not the first time the BBC had decided against running an advert on their behalf and denied his "arm had been twisted" by pro-Israeli lobbyists. | He said it was not the first time the BBC had decided against running an advert on their behalf and denied his "arm had been twisted" by pro-Israeli lobbyists. |
| Labour MP Richard Burden, who is putting forward the early day motion, said he was "equally angry" at Sky News and the BBC, who were not being asked to broadcast a "political appeal". PREVIOUS DEC REFUSALS East Africa 2006: Famine appeal rejected by BBC because of difficulties of accessLebanon 2006: BBC refused to air appeal for Israel-Hezbollah conflict victims on grounds of impartialityBurma 2008: Appeal was only broadcast once BBC was satisfied aid would reach victims Send your comments | Labour MP Richard Burden, who is putting forward the early day motion, said he was "equally angry" at Sky News and the BBC, who were not being asked to broadcast a "political appeal". PREVIOUS DEC REFUSALS East Africa 2006: Famine appeal rejected by BBC because of difficulties of accessLebanon 2006: BBC refused to air appeal for Israel-Hezbollah conflict victims on grounds of impartialityBurma 2008: Appeal was only broadcast once BBC was satisfied aid would reach victims Send your comments |
| "If they (the BBC) want to maintain impartiality, then they should act without fear or favour and treat that child in Gaza just the same as a child in Congo, Darfur or the earthquake in Pakistan." | "If they (the BBC) want to maintain impartiality, then they should act without fear or favour and treat that child in Gaza just the same as a child in Congo, Darfur or the earthquake in Pakistan." |
| Journalists' unions the NUJ and BECTU said the BBC's justifications appeared "cowardly and in danger of being seen as politically motivated". | Journalists' unions the NUJ and BECTU said the BBC's justifications appeared "cowardly and in danger of being seen as politically motivated". |
| A string of politicians, including International Secretary Douglas Alexander, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and opposition spokesmen, have urged the corporation to reconsider its position. | A string of politicians, including International Secretary Douglas Alexander, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears and opposition spokesmen, have urged the corporation to reconsider its position. |
| Their comments drew criticism from BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons who said some were "coming close to constituting undue interference in the editorial independence of the BBC". | Their comments drew criticism from BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons who said some were "coming close to constituting undue interference in the editorial independence of the BBC". |
| He was backed by John Whittingdale MP, the Conservative chairman of the Commons culture select committee. Disasters Emergency Committee Gaza humanitarian appeal: Launched by UK charities on 22 January to raise money for Gaza aid relief and reconstructionParticipants: Action Aid, British Red Cross, Cafod, Care International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund, World VisionInformation on 0370 60 60 900 or at DEC website | He was backed by John Whittingdale MP, the Conservative chairman of the Commons culture select committee. Disasters Emergency Committee Gaza humanitarian appeal: Launched by UK charities on 22 January to raise money for Gaza aid relief and reconstructionParticipants: Action Aid, British Red Cross, Cafod, Care International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Help the Aged, Islamic Relief, Merlin, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund, World VisionInformation on 0370 60 60 900 or at DEC website |
| Shadow culture minister Ed Vaizey also said the BBC was right to be cautious, saying: "The BBC very rarely, if ever, broadcasts an appeal from a war zone." | Shadow culture minister Ed Vaizey also said the BBC was right to be cautious, saying: "The BBC very rarely, if ever, broadcasts an appeal from a war zone." |
| "The trouble with broadcasting an appeal from a war zone is that there are two sides to the argument - and that's what I think we're seeing here," he added. | "The trouble with broadcasting an appeal from a war zone is that there are two sides to the argument - and that's what I think we're seeing here," he added. |
| The Church of England also waded into the row, with the Archbishop of York appealing for the BBC to consider humanity, not impartiality, and show the film. | The Church of England also waded into the row, with the Archbishop of York appealing for the BBC to consider humanity, not impartiality, and show the film. |
| The UN Relief and Works Agency, the largest humanitarian organisation working in Gaza, said there was a "huge and overwhelming need" for aid. | The UN Relief and Works Agency, the largest humanitarian organisation working in Gaza, said there was a "huge and overwhelming need" for aid. |
| It described the situation as a "political crisis with grave humanitarian consequences" and estimated the cost of "rehabilitation and repair" at $345m (£257m), with two-thirds currently unfunded. | It described the situation as a "political crisis with grave humanitarian consequences" and estimated the cost of "rehabilitation and repair" at $345m (£257m), with two-thirds currently unfunded. |