A PALESTINIAN diplomat has urged the BBC to change its “unethical editorial policy” as he explained why he would not speak to the broadcaster about conflict in the occupied West Bank.
Husam Zomlot, who was appointed head of the Palestinian Mission to the United Kingdom in October 2018, gave an interview to Sky News in which he addressed the recent killing of two British-Israeli sisters and their mother.
With regards to the BBC, Zomlot took issue with an article published on the broadcaster’s website with the headline: “Jerusalem: Clashes erupt at contested holy site.”
The headline on the article has since been changed and now reads: "Al-Aqsa mosque: Violence erupts as Irsaeli police raid Jerusalem holy site."
The article in question was about Israeli police raiding the al-Aqsa mosque in east Jerusalem. Police claimed that “agitators” had barricaded themselves and worshippers inside.
“Clashes erupt at contested holy site”. This was the BBC headline when Israeli army raided #Aqsa. Earlier today I told @SkyNews why I didn’t appear on any BBC platform during latest aggression & will not accept a BBC invitation until it corrects its unethical editorial policy. pic.twitter.com/SVqaF2y3An
— Husam Zomlot (@hzomlot) April 10, 2023
Palestinians meanwhile said that stun grenades and rubber bullets were used in the raid which saw 50 people hurt.
Asked by Sky News about which narrative to believe, Zomlot said: “This is the media. Media is not helping, it’s fuelling. Look at the headline of the BBC when this happened.
“The headline goes like this: ‘Clashes erupt at a disputed holy site.’ Clashes? People were praying. It was filmed, it was documented, those are worshippers.
“And disputed site. Disputed by who? By international law and resolution. Disputed by the British government on independent inquiry of commission in 1930 when Britain was in full mandate of Palestine and the independent commission of enquiry came out with clear, clear definition that an Aqsa mosque is a Muslim site, it belongs to the Muslims, only Muslims should pray in it and by the way that’s why I haven’t appeared on BBC for the last few days and I will not until they correct their editorial (policy).”
Zomlot later tweeted the interview and said that the BBC needed to “correct its unethical editorial policy”.
The BBC has been approached for comment.
His comments come as the father of the three women killed in the West Bank said he will be “haunted” after missing a call from them during the attack.
Israel’s Hadassah hospital announced the death of Lucy Dee, 45, on Monday while her daughters, Maia and Rina, aged 20 and 15, died at the scene when their car was shot off the road.
Speaking on Monday, Rabbi Leo Dee said: “Our family of seven is now a family of four. I called Lucy – no answer. I called Maia – no answer. Then I saw a missed call from Maia at 10.52am – I hadn’t notice it ring, I hadn’t picked up the phone.
“The feeling she called me during the attack and I wasn’t able to speak to her will come back and haunt me for a while.”
