A finding by the BBC’s Editorial Complaints Unit (link):
Complaint
The introduction to a report on the West Bank separation barrier in the Ten O’Clock News (BBC One, 8 September 2005) described it as "the barrier which separates Israel from the Palestinian territories".
A viewer complained that this was inaccurate and misleading, as was
the suggestion in the report itself that the purpose of the barrier was
simply to protect Israel from terrorist attack (senior Israeli
government figures having acknowledged that the intention is to alter
the internationally-recognised border).BBC Editorial Complaints Unit’s ruling:
Although the barrier largely follows the boundary between Israel and
the occupied West Bank, its departure from it at some points is among
the reasons why it is controversial.In the light of the sensitivities surrounding the issue, the
description should have been accurate, and the complaint was upheld in
that respect. However, the suggestion in the report that the purpose of
the barrier was simply protective was not that of the reporter, but was
attributed to "ordinary Israelis".Further action
The Editor of the Ten O’Clock News ensured that staff were reminded
of the importance of describing the routing of the barrier accurately.
