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BBC's backpedaling apology
 The Guardian reports that the BBC apologized to Israel in writing for the way it handled coverage of Mordechai Vanunu (pictured). In exchange, correspondent Simon Wilson, who was the network’s Jerusalem bureau chief, will be allowed to return to Israel. After Vanunu was released from prison in 2004, Wilson interviewed the former nuclear technician, then refused to cooperate with Israeli censors, and smuggled tapes of his interview out of the country. Israel responded by refusing to extend Wilson’s work permit and banning him from entering the country.
The climbdown has angered some BBC journalists, who say it will compromise their work in Israel.
The agreement was to have remained confidential, but the BBC unintentionally posted details on its website before removing them a few hours later.
This is not the first time pressure forced the BBC to backpedal over Vanunu.
Posted at
10:18 AM
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I do not understand how it will compromise any of their work. What they do not understand, they do not investigate, what looks like good work on the part of Jews is made to look bad for Israel, and whenever someone dies, it is the Jew's fault.
Explain to me how they are in any way going to have to change their M.O.
Posted by: Jane YIS at Mar 14, 2005 1:00:57 AM
How did they "unintentionally" post these details on their website?
Posted by: Alvin at Mar 14, 2005 4:57:39 PM
"National security" censorship of course means removing anything that the more reactionary pro-Israelis don't want us to hear.
The BBC article of course conceals the results of the discussions that were held.
It is a sad comment on the self-censorship of the BBC that we now need to assume that all BBC news coming from Israel has been spun to make it as pro-Israel as possible. Blair and Hutton between them have thoroughly cowed the organisation.
Posted by: Roger at May 9, 2005 6:16:10 AM
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