World's Largest Broadcaster Refuses to Recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), which holds the rights to broadcast this year’s London Olympic games and is considered the largest broadcast organization in the world, intentionally refuses to list Jerusalem as the capital of Israel on its official Olympics website.
Even worse, according to news reports, until just a few days ago “East Jerusalem” was listed as the capital of Palestine. The Palestinian Territory is not a recognized nation, though it has recently been seeking to thwart international law and the Middle East peace process to obtain unilateral recognition at the United Nations.
In response to BBC’s overt insult to the State of Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson sent a letter to BBC expressing its “dismay[]” that the international news organization would discriminate against Israel in its coverage of the Olympic games. The letter stated, “Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel, and accordingly we respectfully request the immediate rectification of this matter.”
BBC responded, but only by listing Jerusalem as the “Seat of government” of Israel, adding the caveat, “though most foreign embassies are in Tel Aviv.” It also made a slight change to its Olympic profile for Palestine, now listing East Jerusalem as the “Intended seat of government.”
Unfortunately, BBC’s intentional discrimination against the State of Israel has a long history. In fact, in 2007 BBC issued an apology to the Palestinians for one of its commentators stating that Jerusalem was the capital of Israel on air, calling it a “factual mistake.”
Factually, Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. Other Olympic news websites, such as NBC’s, recognized this fact.
Israel lists Jerusalem as its capital. In fact, even the United Nation’s lists “Jerusalem” as Israel’s capital.
U.S. law states, “Since 1950, the city of Jerusalem has been the capital of the State of Israel.” It recognizes that “[e]ach sovereign nation, under international law and custom, may designate its own capital.”
It has been 40 years since the darkest moment in Olympics history when Palestinian terrorists stormed the Olympic village and killed 11 Israeli Olympians and coaches.
Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, being the world's largest broadcaster does not allow you to change that fact. Nor does it allow you to disrespect the Israeli Olympians and the Israeli people.