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Sky joins BBC in Gaza appeal veto MPs call on BBC to air Gaza film
(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. A Commons motion criticising the BBC and Sky for refusing to broadcast a plea for humanitarian aid funding for Gaza has been backed by 112 MPs.
BBC boss Mark Thompson has again defended the decision, saying it would jeopardise the BBC's impartiality. The Disasters Emergency Committee's Gaza Crisis Appeal was screened on Monday by ITV, Channel 4 and Five.
Sky News said running the Disasters Emergency Committee advert was "incompatible" with its objective role. The BBC's explanation that airing the film would threaten its impartiality was described by Labour MP Richard Burden's motion as "unconvincing".
More than 50 MPs say they will back a parliamentary motion urging the BBC and Sky to run the appeal. Meanwhile, protests over the issue have taken place at BBC Broadcasting House.
Meanwhile, activist group Stop the War Coalition launched a demonstration at BBC Broadcasting House in central London. Around 20 campaigners from the Stop the War Coalition walked into the lobby of the central London building with a large banner proclaiming Hands off Gaza.
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. They were removed by police before continuing a noisy protest outside, during which some of them set fire to their television licences. Viewers and listeners can see the difference between a humanitarian appeal and politics Richard Burden MP class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/">Mark Thompson on Gaza appeal class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7845428.stm">The humanitarian battle class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7849554.stm">BBC Gaza appeal row reaction class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7851071.stm">Papers on appeal row class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7851152.stm">Sky statement in full
Come on Auntie Beeb. Wake up and get on with it Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theeditors/">Mark Thompson on Gaza appeal class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7845428.stm">The humanitarian battle class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7849554.stm">BBC Gaza appeal row reaction class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7851071.stm">Papers on appeal row class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7851152.stm">Sky statement in full A number of them set fire to their television licences. Mr Burden tabled the Early Day Motion - used by MPs to demonstrate parliamentary support for particular causes - after Sky announced it was joining the BBC in refusing to show the appeal.
ITV broadcast the appeal, which will also go out on Channel 4 and Five, on Monday evening. John Ryley, head of Sky News, said that broadcasting the film would be "incompatible" with its objective role.
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," he added.
"Our commitment as journalists is to cover all sides of that story with uncompromising objectivity." This echoed BBC director general Mark Thompson's concern that the corporation should not give the impression it was "backing one side" over the other.
Criticism over the BBC's decision not to air the appeal has come from archbishops, government ministers, charity leaders and 11,000 viewers. But Mr Burden said such arguments had been shown to be "more unconvincing and contradictory as time has gone on", claiming the BBC had broadcast appeals from other war zones.
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 fact that well over 100 MPs from different parties have signed this Commons motion shows the breadth of concern about the position which the BBC and Sky are taking," he said.
But Mr Thompson, the BBC director general said the corporation could not give the impression it was "backing one side" over the other. "Viewers and listeners can see the difference between a humanitarian appeal and politics - even if the BBC and Sky management cannot." 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 class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5959&edition=1">Send your comments
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. Mr Burden's motion will be published on Tuesday morning, adding to the intense pressure the BBC faces over its decision not to air the appeal.
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 class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5959&edition=1">Send your comments The corporation has come under fire from archbishops, government ministers, charity leaders and 11,000 viewers.
"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." The Disasters Emergency Committee, which represents more than a dozen aid agencies, is appealing for money to buy food, medicine and blankets following the Israeli assault on Gaza.
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". 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 class="" href="http://www.dec.org.uk/">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 class="" href="http://www.dec.org.uk/">DEC website His view was backed by John Whittingdale MP, chairman of the Commons culture select committee, while Foreign Secretary David Miliband also said the decision had to rest with broadcasters.
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 said the BBC was right to be cautious, adding: "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 Church of England had 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.