Jon Sopel has hit out at the BBC for refusing to describe Hamas as terrorists after its horror attack on Israel.<\/p>\n
The former BBC journalist said the corporation’s guidance to staff is “no longer fit for purpose”.<\/p>\n
He retweeted a post by ex-BBC presenter Andrew Neil on reports that Hamas killed 40 babies in an assault on a kibbutz in Israel.<\/p>\n
Sopel said: “Dear friends and former colleagues BBC News, if this doesn\u2019t describe an act of pure terror by terrorists what does?<\/p>\n
“The guidelines that I followed for years are no longer fit for purpose, and sadly have the effect of sanitising.”<\/p>\n
The BBC’s editorial guidelines have a specific section on Israel and Palestine.<\/p>\n
It states that: \u201cTerrorism is a difficult and emotive subject with significant political overtones and care is required in the use of language that carries value judgments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Staff are told not to use the term “terrorist” without attribution, and should instead use words such as \u201cbomber\u201d, \u201cattacker\u201d, \u201cgunman\u201d, \u201ckidnapper\u201d, \u201cinsurgent\u201d and \u201cmilitant”.<\/p>\n
But veteran BBC journalist John Simpson defended the corporation following a backlash, including from Defence Secretary Grant Shapps and immigration minister Robert Jenrick.<\/p>\n
Mr Simpson said: “British politicians know perfectly well why the BBC avoids the word \u2018terrorist\u2019, and over the years plenty of them have privately agreed with it.<\/p>\n
“Calling someone a terrorist means you\u2019re taking sides and ceasing to treat the situation with due impartiality.<\/p>\n
“The BBC\u2019s job is to place the facts before its audience and let them decide what they think, honestly and without ranting.<\/p>\n
“That\u2019s why, in Britain and throughout the world, nearly half a billion people watch, listen to and read us.<\/p>\n
“There\u2019s always someone who would like us to rant. Sorry, it\u2019s not what we do.”<\/p>\n
The BBC was contacted for comment.<\/p>\n
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