;.cBBC, Hebron
;.l1,6,60,66,1,0,10,75,192,2,15,20,25,127,10,0,
MEDIA BIAS
TO:  BAR-ILAN, EYE ON MEDIA, JLEM POST; CC: BEDEIN ISRAEL RESOURCE
FROM:  Steve Amdur, Haon, 15170; 06-757572; FAX: 06-757511
REF:   BBC World Service 11/07/94 05:15+ GMT
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TEXT:
A feature on the re-opening of the Cave of the Patriarchs focusseson the the hardship caused Palestinians.
	
SUBTEXT:  
Continued Israeli occupation of Hebron causes hardship toPalestinians, esp. the closure of the Hebron outdoor vegetablemarket (shuk?).

STRUCTURE:  BBC Reporter Jackie Roland reports from Hebron, 
the newscaster then interviews Uri Dromi, a government spokesman.

SINS OF OMISSION:  The notion of a right of Jewish access to thesite is not considered; but neither is the sanctity of the site toMuslim worshippers.

DETAILS:  The reporter, apparently dredging for arguments againstIsraeli occupation, notes that the security measures will determany Palestinians from coming to pray (a Palestinian intervieweeconfirms this), notes police checkpoints, closure of roads,increase of police posts (most inappropriate at a religious site),and details the hardship caused by closure of the outdoor market.
The newscaster then interviews Uri Drori, identified as agovernment spokesman; and takes an essentially adversarialposture:  "the security measures seem to have borne rather heavilyon the Palestinians"  "there doesn't seem to be a great sense ofurgency [vocal emphasis]" in alleviating that pressure.  
The newscaster refers in passsing to "settlers -- many of whom arenot [vocal emphasis] citizens of Israel"; Drori, heroicallyresisting the Israeli inclination to interrupt, promptly notesthat they are Israeli citizens.  He concludes, in a ratherPeresesque turn of phrase, "I'm sure you'll see some improvement"soon.  The newscaster responds, "Let's hope so," and signs off thesegment with an identifying phrase "Uri Drori, governmentspokeman", with a 'downturn' on the last 2 words that conveys thedisgruntlement of a humble honest reporter with the need to giveairspace to such apologists.  Englishmen of a certain class arerather good at getting in these little digs just after the gamehas ended. 