An analysis of the Today programme covering July 19-25 by Judith Brown, a director of Arab Media Watch.
This week there has been total chaos in Gaza spilling over into the West Bank, plus some worrying signs of increased activity by Jewish extremists in Israel, including threats on Sharon's life, the assassination of a judge and threats against Islamic holy sites. The anarchic situation in Gaza is hardly surprising when so many leaders have been assassinated and Arafat, the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian security forces have been so weakened by Israeli attacks during the past 3 years. Additionally there is some sign of the violence extending across the borders as Israel was accused of assassinating a Hezbollah leader in Beirut, which resulted in border clashes with 2 Israelis and a Lebanese being killed, and Jordan killed 3 militants believed to be heading for Israel. Many world leaders have expressed alarm at this state of affairs. This has hardly been covered by the Today programme, except for 2 very brief mentions in very early slots on Monday and Tuesday.
The huge majority vote in the General Assembly calling for the barrier to be removed went unmentioned, neither was there any discussion on the deal between Israel and the US to the effect that the US would veto any resolution put to the UN Security Council.
This week 16 Palestinians were killed, including a 4-year-old, an unarmed 17-year-old civilian who was shot in his own home by shells fired from an armoured vehicle, and a 17-year-old Palestinian who was killed when he was trying to prevent militants planting a bomb intended for Israeli targets. The total number killed since the start of the intifada is 3,199 Palestinians and 926 Israelis. Not reported, nor were the rest of Israeli army activity, e.g. incursions, house demolitions, etc.
Israeli but not Palestinian newspapers were reported on from Jerusalem. On the Today and Sunday programmes this week there were only Jewish and Israeli spokesmen, as usual. No Palestinian spokesmen on the anarchic situation in Gaza, the reasons for it and the help they need to move forward. Would you believe it, on both the Today AND Sunday programmes, the issue of anti-Semitism in France was aired PLUS an item on Israeli demography, with several Israeli and Jewish spokesmen. No comment on the rising Jewish extremism in Israel that now threatens the Israeli judicial system, and no mention that what sparked the French anti-Semitism debate was an alleged attack on a Jewish woman by youths of North African appearance which later was proved to be totally false.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 19
6.10am
2-minute clip on protests in Gaza, saying 12 were injured, 1 seriously. Calls it jockeying for position prior to Israeli pull-out. No reference to the Israeli occupation weakening and breaking down all administrative structures. Instead it said Arafat and the PA could not find a solution.
6.38am
3-minute clip on Sharon's recommendation to French Jews to leave for Israel.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 20
6.43am
2.5-minute clip on Israeli newspapers. Once more, Palestinian newspapers are ignored. 3 subjects: the killing of the judge put down the general moral decline in Israel and rise in criminality, the Gaza disorder, and the reaction to Sharon's statement that Jews should leave France and live in Israel.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 21
8.48am
7-minute item on Occidentalism, which referred briefly to Edward Said, publicising a book which sounds like Islamophobia dressed up as a pretend academic study. As proof that the writer is definitely NOT academic, the two speakers obviously knew very little about Occidentalism, which was inaccurately and misleadingly portrayed as acute hatred of the West.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 22: no items
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 23: no items
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 24: no items
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 25: Sunday programme
6-minute item on Sharon asking French Jews to move to France immediately. Although accusing French Muslims of anti-Semitism, no French Muslims were interviewed, but several French Jews with differing opinions.
4-minute item on Jewish demography in Israel. An academic from Haifa University says an immediate 2-state solution is essential if a Jewish state is to be preserved. He says this is the thinking behind the pullout from Gaza.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Not reported this week:
July 19
The extent and seriousness of the Palestinian crisis, with anarchy throughout Gaza and spreading to the West Bank. Prisoners freed from prison in Gaza by militants, more resignations of officials, Prime Minister Qurei still insists on resigning, more kidnapping, rival groups exchange fire etc.
Car bomb in Beirut kills Hezbollah military official, Israel suspected.
2 Palestinians killed in Tulkarem by IDF, plus another in Nablus.
4-year-old Palestinian girl shot in the head by IDF in earlier incident dies from wounds.
Jordan shoots dead 3 militants trying to cross into Israel.
France indignant at Sharon's demand that French Jews emigrate to Israel.
More settlers are arriving in settlements in Gaza.
Israeli judge shot at point blank range in Tel Aviv by gunman, thought to be act of criminal.
July 20
Turkey signs trade agreement with Palestinians.
Jewish "extremists" are planning to assassinate Sharon over Gaza pullout. Note: they are not labelled terrorists on reports from Agence France Presse.
2 Israeli soldiers plus a Hezbollah fighter killed in clashes across the Israel-Lebanon border.
Former Palestinian Minister Nabil Amr shot and injured by Palestinian gunmen as crisis continues. He calls it an assassination attempt related to his criticism of Arafat's government.
UN General Assembly votes 150-6 with 10 abstentions to demand Israel pulls down barrier; Israel says it will carry on building it.
July 21
Another kidnapping of official in Palestinian territories, although later freed. Palestinian MPs call for new government.
Various countries and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan make comment on barrier. Israel and US defiant.
Various countries also make comments on the anarchy in Palestine, calling for order to be restored.
July 22
Israel kills 2 militants in Gaza.
Turmoil continues in Palestinian territories, with a demonstration in Gaza of thousands of Palestinians.
More countries and their representatives make comment on the turmoil.
July 23
2 militants killed in Gaza by IDF.
Palestinian youth killed by Palestinian gunmen as he tries to prevent planting of anti-Israeli bomb.
Israeli court drops plans to expel a US peace activist who wants to film a Holocaust survivor who is protesting against the barrier.
Yet more demonstrations by Palestinians in Gaza.
July 24
Police station in Khan Younis torched by Palestinians and regional office taken over by demonstrators.
IDF house demolitions continue as usual.
Israeli minister Tsahi Hanegbi warns of "high risk" of attacks on Islamic holy places by Jewish extremist groups.
Palestinian child killed in his home by automatic fire from an armoured Israeli vehicle. Israel denies it was the IDF.
July 25
More protests by Palestinians who want a "People's Congress" in Gaza.
Israelis form a human chain to demonstrate against Gaza pullout.
IDF incursion into Beit Hanun, Gaza.
Vanunu says Dimona could become another Chernobyl.
3 wounded by missile attack on house in Gaza by IDF.
6 Palestinians wounded in a rocket attack on Jewish settlement in Gaza, reports say all were children.
6 killed in Israeli raid on Jenin, one the leader of Al Aqsa Brigade.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To listen again:
Go to www.bbc.co.uk/today then find the archives and click on the day you want to check. For the Sunday programme go to www.bbc.co.uk, click on radio then radio 4, go to 'listen again' and find Sunday in the index.
For comments write to today@bbc.co.uk or Sunday@bbc.co.uk