Saturday, October 25, 2008

The Doubting BBC

The BBC is doubtful about an historic site in Hebron:-

Hebron has consistently been a flashpoint. A few hundred Jews live in the middle of 150,000 Palestinians, and the town is also home to the reputed burial site of the Patriarch Abraham - revered by both Jews and Muslims.


Now, I don't expect the BBC to believe in the Bible, or in Jewish or Mulsim religious traditions. But I do expect that if this is the BBC's position, then it should be expressed as regards all similar sites.

For example, here, the BBC, writing about Jerusalem's "Religious Heritage", has this to say about the Temple Mount:

The Temple Mount, in the old city in East Jerusalem, is believed by Jews to be site of the First and Second Temples in ancient times.


but the Haram Al-Sharif is described thus:-

The same area is known to Muslims as the Haram al-Sharif, or the Noble Sanctuary. The plot contains the Dome of the Rock, and the al-Aqsa Mosque - Islam's third holiest site. The Koran says that the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven from this spot.


You noted the difference, right? One is, well, "perhaps" but the other is "for sure".

It reminded me of another BBC viewpoint: It is a work of fiction. But only just.

No comments: