Sharon to boycott BBC
Israeli premier Ariel Sharon will boycott the BBC when he visits London next week, it was reported today.
Newspaper Haaretz said Israel has not invited the BBC to Sharon’s briefing after talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The BBC has asked for an interview with Sharon during the visit, but this request is expected to be turned down, said the Israeli newspaper.
The director of Britain's Government Press Office, Danny Seaman, said that Israel decided not to cooperate with the BBC in protest against “its anti-Israel coverage, which is characterised by violation of journalistic ethics and the broadcasting of baseless claims.”
The Israeli government decided two weeks ago to make it more difficult for the BBC to cover events relating to this country by, among other methods, banning official spokesmen from appearing on the network.
Israel was angry over the repeated airing of a BBC World film that discussed Israel’s nuclear policy and compared it to that of fallen Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein. The film also charged that Israel has used unconventional weapons against the Palestinians.
