Media Law Bulletin

Remember Palestine - Press TV

Press TV is an Iranian news network which broadcasts in English from the UK. It is therefore regulated by Ofcom and subject to the requirements of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code ("OBC"). "Remember Palestine" is a current affairs programme presented by Lauren Booth (who is incidentally the sister of Cherie Blair). This particular programme discussed the events surrounding the interception by Israeli military forces of a pro Palestinian aid convoy en route to Gaza on 31st May 2010. The programme started with a pro Palestinian song set to anti Israeli/pro Palestinian imagery. The programme featured both live and recorded interviews with various contributors including a relative of one of the people on the ship and representatives of various Palestinian charities and aid organisations. None of the contributors represented Israel or its interests.

The Presenter offered the following comments:

"Israeli commandos... committed a massacre of innocent civilians sailing aid ships to the besieged Gaza Strip... this was obviously a barbarous attack on civilians"

"One thing is certain: as Turkey buries its murdered citizens and in Britain we welcome home our brave and injured, the brave men and women on those ships, in one move, have shifted world opinion against Israeli apartheid..".

The various contributors offered the following comments:

"Israel's inhuman and illegal blockage of the people of Gaza... this was the use of lethal force for political ends..."

"Israel is a state above the law..."

"Israel's piracy in the Mediterranean Sea ended with a massacre..."

"The martyrdom of the supporters of the Palestinian people on the freedom flotilla..."

Ofcom received a complaint that the programme was in contravention of the Broadcaster's obligation to observe due impartiality. Rule 5.5 of the OBC states:

"Due impartiality on matters of political or industrial controversy and matters relating to current public policy must be preserved on the part of any person providing a service. This may be achieved within a programme or over a series of programmes taken as a whole."

In its response, Press TV highlighted two comments made by the Presenter which it felt provided the audience with the Israeli viewpoint, ie:-

"There has been a lot of talk about violent terrorism; the Israeli army have said the sort of people who want to go on a Gaza aid convoy are radicals..."

"We've been hearing that the poor commandos landed and were lynched, they didn't mean to use force..."

However, Ofcom were not impressed, pointing out that when seen in context these comments did not produce the effect contended by Press TV. For instance, in relation to the first quote, the Presenter went on to ask the contributor "Does that describe your brother-in-law?" The contributor replied "No not at all" and duly described him; the Presenter then commented "He sounds like a nice guy..."

In relation to the second quote, this was in fact preceded by a comment by the Presenter:

"There has been a lot of Israeli propaganda obviously since the attack.".

Perhaps not surprisingly Ofcom held that when the comments highlighted by the Broadcaster were considered in the context in which they were delivered, they did not achieve due impartiality.

On a wider point, the Broadcaster contended that the "intensity of the descriptions in the programme merely...