BBC apologises for misleading terror attack headline after Netanyahu complains

June 20, 2017 Agencies
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Following complaints by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over a BBC headline on the recent Palestinian terror attacks in Jerusalem, the British news organisation recanted and apologised.

Hadas Malka

The Islamic State and Hamas terror groups both claimed responsibility for Friday’s deadly attack in Jerusalem’s Old City, carried out by three Palestinian terrorists, which killed Israeli Border Police Staff Sgt. Major Hadas Malka, 23, at Damascus Gate, and left two others injured. The terrorists were killed by security services. Malka was stabbed to death.

The BBC’s original headline and tweet read, “Three Palestinians killed after deadly stabbing in Jerusalem,” which omitted the fact that it occurred in response to the fatal stabbing of an Israeli police officer.

Netanyahu called on Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to censure the BBC for the misleading headline. The Israeli embassy in London filed a complaint, citing the network’s “false reports” and “refusal to use the word terror when it comes to attacks on Israeli citizens.”

Following the complaint, the BBC removed the offending tweet and changed the article headline to, “Israeli policewoman stabbed to death in Jerusalem.”

“We accept that our original headline did not appropriately reflect the nature of the events and subsequently changed it. Whilst there was no intention to mislead our audiences, we regret any offense caused,” the BBC said in a statement.

Also expressing outrage over the BBC headline choice was President Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who tweeted, “You mean after they stabbed a female Israeli police officer to death… right? This is as close to being misleading as possible,” Trump Jr. replied.

“Need a new term for this nonsense. Sort of the opposite of victim blaming. How about Culprit Coddling? Maybe Criminal Cozying? Thoughts???,” he added in a second tweet.

Meanwhile, in response to the terror attack, Netanyahu said Sunday Israeli security forces are preparing to demolish the terrorists’ homes and the government “revoked Palestinians’ visits in Israel,” while also beefing up security in the plaza around Damascus Gate where the deadly attack occurred.

 

JNS.org

Comments

One Response to “BBC apologises for misleading terror attack headline after Netanyahu complains”
  1. adrian jackson says:

    The police everywhere need to be more vigilant.

    Also didn’t the police member have a flak jacket on?

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