Source Note #6
Summary: The Israeli Defense Ministry concealed that it illegally built settlements on private Palestinian property.
Topic: Should the Obama administration fund the defense of Israel?
Category: Mainstream Journalistic
What is it? News report from the BBC’s website
Title: Israel ‘hides settlements data’
Publication Information: BBC; Jan. 30, 2009
Author: None listed
Location: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7861076.stm
Accessed: Jan. 30, 2009
Support:
Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper
Yesh Din, Israeli human rights group
Ehud Barak, Israeli Defense Minister
George Mitchell, US envoy to the Middle East
Ehud Olmert, Israeli Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the Israeli right-wing opposition
These sources are cited by the BBC as either direct informants or those who gave information to the Israeli newspaper that leaked the story, Haaretz. Yesh Din spoke directly to the BBC regarding the legality of the settlements and its intent to assist affected Palestinians in pursuing lawsuits.
Source Analysis:
The BBC claims it is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world and broadcasts over television, radio, and the internet. It provides its news in 32 different languages to a worldwide audience. BBC Worldwide publishes books and television programs. According to the BBC’s “About” page, “the BBC is governed by the BBC Trust, which represents the interests of licence fee payers and sets the overall strategy.”
Usefulness:
This article speaks on the Israeli government’s coverup of settlement building on private Palestinian property without the proper permits. The issue of settlements causes particular strain in the Israel-Palestine conflict. US envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell has called for Israel to cease the building of settlements as a way to bring peace to the region.
Works cited:
Israel ‘hides settlements data’
What is the BBC?
2 Replies
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