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Jim Keys of the Foyle Ethical Investment Campaign (FEIC)

An Open Letter to the BBC Management and Staff Regarding BBC Refusal to screen Humanitatian Appeal for Gaza

Thursday 29 January 2009

I want to register civilised outrage at the fact that the BBC has refused to carry the appeal for humanitarian aid for Gaza on the basis that it would be seen to be loosing its impartiality with regard to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. I assert that the reverse is true.

Refusing to carry the appeal for humanitarian aid is taking the sides. The BBC should be on the side of the people of Palestine and Israel. Instead it has taken the side of the Israeli militarists who have first dehumanised their enemy and can then systematically treat a whole people as less than human. By not supporting the call for humanitarian aid, aid indiscriminately needed by all human beings in times of crisis, you too infer that these people are non human. You too are collectively punishing ordinary defenceless people in Gaza.

The BBC has already perpetrated a serious crime here. Justice delayed is justice denied. Humanitarian agencies have a short window in which to gather the funds needed for each humanitarian disaster before the cameras move to the next one.

Had there been a massive attack on Israel where the state was pulverised to the point where many there were dying in the aftermath, would the BBC not have carried a call for humanitarian aid for Israel? You would have been right to do so. All human beings indiscriminately deserve humanitarian aid.

I am hoping that protest at this state of affairs is mobilising within the BBC and urge that you act quickly. You are a public service broadcaster, our TV licence bestows on your organisation a sacred trust which should be respected. When your Director or Board makes the wrong decisions as in this case here you too have a duty to act.

The ordinary people of Gaza need your help, don't forsake them in this hour of need.

BBC do the right thing, don't take sides, carry the add!

Help mobilise humanitarian aid to Gaza!

BBC staff please make your feelings unambiguously clear to management.

We must all do what it is in our power to do!

Jim Keys

Derry





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