Dispatches

Comments

1. At last someone - Peter Oborne and C4 - has had the courage to talk about the elephant in the room of the British media, particularly TV; the deliberate pro-Isreal bias that was a feature of the Blair years and continues today. The BBC's refusal to broadcast the Gaza appeal was outrageous. Ironically, the appeal ended up with greater publicity as a result. Thankfully, the British public can make it's own mind up about Israel's atrocities in Gaza and elsewhere. No amount of accusations of anti-semitism can erase the truth that is plain to see. Congratulations Dispatches and Peter Oborne.

   Posted by ambermuda on 22/11/2009 18:30:37

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2. Who said investigative journalism was dead? This is an excellent piece of well researched material and has certainly raised the bar.

   Posted by Yvonne Ridley on 21/11/2009 13:43:41

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3. This film/doc is not allowed to be viewed in the States. :-( What can we do about this? How can we in the states get access? The truth needs to come out.

   Posted by Lisa McB on 20/11/2009 13:29:08

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4. Thank you for having the courage to broadcast the truth about this highly secretive lobby and its effect on British politics. It is high time that our political parties were funded in such a way as to ensure that they cannot be influenced from behind the scenes by any group. The calls raised for this to happen after the cash for peerages scandal (Levy et al) were buried with suspicious rapidity.

   Posted by Diana Lodge on 20/11/2009 10:44:03

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5. EM. Not a single trade union or other organisation has requested a boycott on China for it's brutal occupation of Tibet. Not a single one demands a boycott of Turkey for it's occupations of Cyprus or Kurdistan. Or Saudi Arabia for it's brutal oppression of anyone who isn't Salafi Muslim. The Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco, where the native population has been almost completely annihilated. For that matter what about Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. You say you can see occupation when you see and yet the only occupation any of these organisations actually see is the supposed occupation of "Palestine". As to 'decent human beings' I believe 'decent human beings' are prepared to listen to both sides of an argument and not declare that a country is occupied based on ignorance. With regard to the Arab lobby I think if Channel 4 actually did such a documentary you would be greatly surprised at the influence the Arab and Muslim lobbies have in this country. Some examples. Not a single national media outlet published the Mohammed Cartoons due to the fear of offending Muslims and loosing the advertisements from Arab or Arab owned companies. They have no compunction against publishing cartoons that Jews find greatly offensive. Not a single national media outlet published a retraction of the Mohammed Dura story despite the fact that at the end of the video in which they have all claimed he was killed he is seen happily waving at the Camera. Seven years this story was at the top of the Media agenda and the story of his death wormed it’s way in to virtually every story of the Arab/Israeli conflict, the Israeli dialog %u2013 that it was a fiction was ignored %u2013 and when it became blatantly obvious to even the most hardened observer that the Palestinian dialog was untrue and that in fact the Israeli dialog was the correct one, the media does not correct itself but goes silent. So where exactly is this vaunted Jewish control of the media? What about Shira law? You think the Jewish lobby is influential where is the discussion of including Jewish law in the UK? With regard to this specific article as well as the Jewish pro-Israel forum within the Conservative party there is also Conservative Muslim forum and in Labour, a Labour Muslim group.

   Posted by AJEW on 19/11/2009 19:38:12

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6. A fantastic programme. Well done to Peter Oborne and the C4 team for having the courage to tackle this great taboo and its pernicious influence on our politics and media. Re: AJEW - Those of us supporting trade unions and others on boycotts and divestment are not Arabs at all. Just decent human beings who know occupation when they see it. Hope C4 does commission a documentary on the so-called Arab lobby. Would be good to compare and contrast. Not that I'm in any doubt that the Israel lobby and its 'hasbara' is far out ahead.

   Posted by EM on 19/11/2009 17:02:10

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7. I want to answer some of the points made by Anthony Spencer who accused Hamas of starting the Gaza war. Hamas had called for a cease fire in early July, which was honoured for nearly 6 months until Israelis killed 6 people in Gaza and then others in the West Bank, until they got a response from some more rocket fired. The war was provoked deliberately to coincide with the elections in Israel and the hiatus between US Presidents. The war was a massacre, breaking rules of war like killing children in their homes and schools, women and civilians,and firing white phosphorus onto babies. Also bombing of UN buildings and hospitals where people were seeking shelter. Israel was guilty of many war crimes, and human rights abuses comparable to the things he accused Iran of doing. Israel killed well over 1400 people including over 800 civilians. There were 430 children killed. Israelis killed = 13.!!including 4 soldiers killed by 'friendly fire'. Only 9 were civilians, therefore it would seem that Israel killeth over 100 fold!! Israel claims to be the only democracy in the Middle East. It is a racist and apartheid state, with it separate rules for settlers who can build anywhere they want, and no Palestinian would be allowed to live in a settlement. The Palestinians have their homes demolished if the add a room without planning permission which they never get. They have separate roads for Jewish settlers which Palestinians are not allowed to use. Water is turned off for weeks on end, and the Palestinians are allocated a quarter of the amount that Israeli get, and pay 4 times as much for it. Every aspect of their lives are controlled, and even Bishop Desmond Tutu said that apartheid in South Africa' was a picnic compared to what happens in Israel.' Why does Israel always scream 'anti semitism' when criticised for crimes against humanity? Israel is breaking every part of the human rights act, and commits war crimes...as written in Goldstone's report recently. To be against what the State of Israel do is not antisemitism. There are many wonderful Jews who are working for Peace, and ashamed of what their politicians in the state of Israel are doing. We need more of the programmes like Dispatches. It's about time Israel had to obey the rules of the world community. The answer might be for UK and USA to stop all funding to Israel until they comply with the UN resolutions and allow the Palestinians to have their own state to live in PEACE with JUSTICE.

   Posted by Jo on 19/11/2009 16:52:48

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8. I was very pleased that the Dispatches programme highlighted the activities of our political parties who are in the pay of the Jewish lobby. It is vital that the media have the courage to publish the truth about Israel, and the activities of the Zionists. The State of Israel has always seemed to have immunity from criticism, and it about time that they are castigated for the way they ignore all the rules of humanity. If USA and UK forced Israel to comply with the UN resolutions and Geneva convention, there would be peace with justice in the Middle East. Unfortunately President Obama is not able to stop Israel from building more settlements as the government in Israel ignore his wishes. If however,the funding was stopped to Israel, until they complied with all the rules of humanity, there would soon be peace, but as they are funded for the settlements, weapons including nuclear weapons, and walls, by us and USA, and have so many rich Jews backing them, I feel that there will never be a just peace in Palestine. The Palestinians are living in terrible conditions and especially in Gaza. We should be dealing with Israel in the way Bush and Blair dealt with Saddam Hussein, as Israel are guilty of similar crimes to those Saddam was accused of. It is becoming clear that the state of Israel was founded on Zionist myths. In fact the Jews were given a homeland, NOT a state. The state of Israel is destroying the LAND of Israel.

   Posted by Joanne Moston on 19/11/2009 16:11:58

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9. An appauling piece of anti-semitic tripe that does nothing but re-enforce racist sterotypes and denies the right of Jews and Pro-israelis to have a voice. If this was anything but a racist attack on Britains Jews then where is the Channel 4 documentary on the Arab lobby? This lobby is far more influential in British politics than the Jewish one as the constant calls to boycott Israel from Unions, Universities and large elements of the British media clearly demonstrate.

   Posted by AJew on 19/11/2009 12:13:59

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10. I would like to thank Peter Oborne and producers for having the courage to stand up for the truth about the Uk government and the power of the Israel lobbyists. I am sure the same is happening in the US. If we try to reveal what is the truth the Israelis hide behind calling it anti semitism. Well done Dispatches

    Posted by frances on 19/11/2009 12:06:17

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11. Great documentary and about time too...keep it up channel 4. The power of the Israel lobby in America is even more harrowing. As for the comments by Mr. spencer; not all Jewish people agree with the actions of Zionism and Israeli policy; and your statement about Palestine not existing is remarkable. Palestine was in existence before the creation of Israel!

    Posted by FT on 18/11/2009 23:10:43

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12. An eye-opening, refreshing and shocking documentary! Well done to you!!!!!

    Posted by Arthur Gee on 18/11/2009 20:03:48

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13. Thank you Channel 4 for having the courage to even make a programme about the Israeli lobby in British politics. The issue is often blurred by anti semetic accusations by this particular lobbying group. Many people have likened Israel to aparthied S Africa including some prominent Jewish leaders. The Israeli lobby has manipulated British politics to further its own agenda for many years. It is about time programmes such as this inform the public what is actually going on. Well done again and don't give in to any bullying tactics !

    Posted by Truth Finder on 18/11/2009 17:50:56

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14. Excellent! Thank you Peter Oborne, well done Ch4 for airing the programme. I have given up on the BBC.Exposing the corrupt system. Can you repeat re-play it please.

    Posted by Fadi on 18/11/2009 13:11:23

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15. Absolutely brilliant show - well done. How funny that Lorna Fitzsimmons used to be an mp in a big muslim constituency and now ends up cheif exec of a zionist organisation.

    Posted by tariq on 18/11/2009 07:03:44

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16. It is regrettable that England has bred and admitted so many ignorant and crude people as far as attacking Israel is concerned . The programme on Channel 4 was full of anti-semetic innuendo and failed to identify the true cause of the Gaza war which was the murderous campaign by Hamas in sending rockets from Gaza which killed and maimed innocent people. If people in this country have so much sympathy for Gaza why dont they go and live there and see how a country ruled by murderous gangsters like Hamas works.It is a true fact that Israel is the only truly democratic country in the Middle East. I dont hear people complaining about the brutal regime in Iran where people are hung from cranes for minor offences or being hung just for being gay. Or what about Saudia Arabia who enjoys flogging women for minor offences and hacking off peoples heads in public every Friday with a sword. Nobody seems to write about these things or make television programmes about the cruelty and human rights abuses in many Arab Countries. May I remind the writer who quoted the Balfour Declaration that in 1948 Israel accepted smaller borders than it has today. It is only because of the intransigence of the Arab world who attacked Israel on several occasions which caused the map to be withdrawn. Let me also mention that before 1967 there was Israel, Jordan and Egypt and no Palestine. Rest assured all Jewish people in the World will fight to ensure the survival of Israel despite the plague of vicious anti-semitism which always rears its ugly head in the disguised as anti Zionism

    Posted by Anthony Spencer on 18/11/2009 00:58:16

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17. A very well produced documentary highlighting the times we are living in, the games people play and the people we trust to make decisions and to spread news. Congratulations... it made me wonder if these MPs were also friend of palestinian, what do these MPS say on the matter and what do they actually do. Reading responses of MPs on this matter who are friends of Israel makes sense having watched this now... Program was just enlightening and my thoughts have changed very much for the better

    Posted by Seeking the truth on 17/11/2009 23:07:10

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18. I am very dissappointed with c4 for broadcasting a hugely biased documentary with very weak points as many facts have been manipulated to fit a theme that is evidently contradicts what is going on. i.e. the overwhelming influence of arabic groups and countries on government and media.

    Posted by John on 17/11/2009 22:44:48

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19. Excellent documentry, the British government should be ashamed of aligning themselves with the state of Israel. If my memory serves me right it was the British mandate that started this catastrophy in the Middle East. Peter Oborne, C4 and the Guardian done a great job as the documentry made its mark. I wonder how many complaints C4 got from the Israeli lobby groups. Nonetheless great work C4

    Posted by JS on 17/11/2009 21:01:04

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20. Poor documentary in mnay ways BUT any mainstream riposte to the Pro-Israel consensus is refreshing. A synopsis of our role historically would have made for a better start but admittedly there's a whole programme there. Also it would have been more worthwhile perhaps to have examined the pro-Israeli stance of the US governemnt. As our foreign policy is in Washington consequently we are forever fighting wars against Moslems who simply resent the role of the West. I used to be pro-Israel when I was younger, just the opposite now and feel ashamed of being British in this regard.

    Posted by Shine600 on 17/11/2009 19:01:15

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21. Excellent Documentary!

    Posted by Stace on 17/11/2009 17:56:20

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22. Great documentary, I hope you will be able to continue reporting on sensitive issues throughout the world. Unfortunately some people already started complaining and talking about bias and why not report on Hamas or on whomever else!!! Whatever Peter Oborne is going to report on next will not change the facts that were shown or the change the condemning United Nations report about Israel’s war crimes on civilians and civil infrastructure in Gaza and Lebanon. If the death of civilians is justified by saying this is a war and casualties will occur then Hamas will justify what they were doing as well (which not justified for both). Therefore I think this documentary amongst many other is fair and just. Worryingly no one at all addressed the fact that our country (Britain) is being ruled only by those who agree to Israel’s policies. Yes, they are elected but they have the resources (direct or indirect bribes) to strengthen themselves for elections. And finally please see the declaration, a typed letter signed in ink by Balfour, reads as follows in 1917 and note the %u201Cbest endeavours%u201D onwards: Foreign Office, November 2nd, 1917. Dear Lord Rothschild, I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty's Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet: "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country". I should be grateful if you would bring this declaration to the knowledge of the Zionist Federation. Yours sincerely Arthur James Balfour

    Posted by AL on 17/11/2009 15:18:31

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23. Excellent! Thank goodness Peter Oborne and the Guardian have the guts to expose this evil situation. Well done and let's have more details as one hour is not enough to show the extent of this corruption in our political system. Israel is despicable for its cruelty and plain greed.

    Posted by Frank MUGFORD on 17/11/2009 15:08:16

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24. wonderful full of you to contribute to this discussion. well done for airing the programme. with best wishes to the dispatches channel 4 team. ursula

    Posted by Ursula Pretzlik on 17/11/2009 14:44:16

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25. Great show, shocking and brave.... I hope channel 4 continue to stand for freedom of speech and provide unbiased and informative documentaries and news, regardless of whether it steps foot on someones secret exploitative agenda. Thankyou guardian and c4 for enlightening us.

    Posted by Hermy on 17/11/2009 13:08:23

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26. Finally, someone breaks through the filters of Zionist censorship. These sorts of programs - investigative journalism - are disappearing off our screens in favour of celebrity tittle tattle, much as the US. I hope C4 follows up as a one hour program only scratches the surface of how Israeli groups manipulate not just the media, but society, economy, education etc.

    Posted by Hadi Zarbafi on 17/11/2009 11:06:33

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27. First-rate programme. Well-presented, well-informed. Fair and BRAVE. John Ray

    Posted by John Ray on 17/11/2009 10:05:31

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28. Great to see the programme - we need many more like this Zagazoo

    Posted by Zagazoo on 17/11/2009 09:55:03

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29. Well done, excellent programme! Rather than being referred to as the pro-israeli lobby, a more accurate description is surely the pro-zionist lobby?

    Posted by Caroline on 17/11/2009 09:05:40

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30. Great work, well done on exposing the corrupt system and the people behind it. Lets hope you'll you can make more ground on it.

    Posted by Tam on 17/11/2009 08:44:19

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31. An Outstanding documentary by Channel 4! Peter Osborne is so courageous and brilliant in reporting the murky truth behind our politics. It is a huge relief that finally mainstream media is brave enough to speak out. For the sake of the public, PLEASE CONTINUE making documentaries like this!!! We have given up on the BBC a long time ago and need people like you Osborne, and Channel 4 to speak out for the public!

    Posted by Anti-War on 17/11/2009 01:09:14

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32. job very well done! about time somebodys got balls to do what you have.Thank you!

    Posted by naeem on 17/11/2009 00:56:30

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33. Many thanks for your courageous and much needed expose of this, traditionally, taboo topic. The Israeli machinery of bullying and intimidation deserves to be unmasked. Its not so "kosher" strategies reflect the brutality and aggression with which Israel (mis)treats the Palestinians and its Arab neighbours. The ugly face of the "only democracy in the Middle East" has been revealed in your well-researched programme.

    Posted by Prof. Yosefa Loshitzky on 16/11/2009 23:54:27

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34. Thank you! I missed most of the programme but what I did catch was well said! Thank you for finally addressing a shameful issue! Shall catch it on repeat!

    Posted by Me on 16/11/2009 23:41:28

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35. Sirs It was quite refreshing to see such an honest and well documented programme about what goes on behind the publicised policies of the British Political Parties. Israel's influence on the ruling power in Britain and elsewhere is at last exposed thanks to Oborne and Channel 4.

    Posted by Dr Y Othman on 16/11/2009 22:58:17

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36. Excellent job - I applaud Peter Osborne for exposing this heinous group of individuals. It's about time the smoke screen is lifted and the public are made aware of the Zionists agenda. Shame on them for not allowing charitable donations to reach people that were massacred in Gaza by the Israeli killing machine.

    Posted by Qasim Khan on 16/11/2009 22:51:57

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37. Congratulations Channel 4! At last someone has had the courage to speak up for freedom of expression. You put the BBC to shame. Well done

    Posted by R Appleby on 16/11/2009 21:58:14

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38. Great program, thank you.

    Posted by Frank B on 16/11/2009 20:59:44

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