Complaint
A listener complained that the phrase 鈥渇rom the river to the sea鈥 was described as 鈥渁 pro-Palestinian chant鈥, whereas it was used by Hamas and similar organisations to express the aspiration of eliminating Israel and Jews from Palestine.听 The programme鈥檚 description ignored those Palestinians who wished for a peaceful two-state solution (as well as disregarding the offensiveness of the phrase to Israelis) and reflected bias towards terrorist groups. 听The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the 麻豆官网首页入口鈥檚 editorial standards of accuracy and impartiality.
Outcome
The phrase was used in the following exchange:
Comedian 1: The power of words also got Labour MP Andy McDonald suspended from the party for making a speech using the phrase, 鈥渇rom the river to the sea鈥.
Comedian 2: ...Which is a pro-Palestinian chant and coincidently, Thames Water鈥檚 sewage discharge policy.
The ECU did not consider that, in this context, listeners in general would have expected a precise or nuanced description of the phrase in question, or that they would have been materially misled about its meaning and use.
听Not Upheld