World briefs
By JTA
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BBC sorry for errors in Israel reports
JERUSALEM (JTA)—The BBC apologized for major inaccuracies in two recent reports about Israel. On March 7, the British broadcaster reported that Israel had bulldozed the home of the Mercaz HaRav yeshiva attacker while showing footage of a home being demolished.
In reality, the home had not been demolished, as other news service footage showed, a fact revealed by CAMERA, a Boston-based media watchdog, the Jerusalem Post reported. The BBC apologized on its news program and admitted using footage from the demolition of another home, according to the Post.
In a March 14 report on its Web site, the BBC reported Israel was deliberately targeting Palestinian civilians in Gaza during an incursion to take out Kassam rocket launchers and that the United Nations secretary-general also called it an attack on civilians. In actuality, the BBC had used a statement made two weeks earlier in the Security Council in which Ban Ki-moon had said.
“While recognizing Israel’s right to defend itself, I condemn the disproportionate and excessive use of force that has killed and injured so many civilians, including children.” Ban said later, “I condemn Palestinian rocket attacks and call for the immediate cessation of such acts of terrorism.” In its apology the BBC said, “We accept we should have made reference to what [Ban] said about Palestinian rocket attacks as well as to the ‘excessive use of force’ by Israel. We have amended the report, also removing the reference to Israeli ‘attacks on civilians.’”
Blood libel surfaces
KIEV, Ukraine (JTA)—Dozens of posters spreading anti-Semitic blood libel have appeared in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk. The posters and leaflets warn parents to protect their children from Russian Jews as Passover approaches, according to reports in the Israeli media. Spread throughout Russia’s third-largest city, the posters link the recent disappearances of local children to Jews. “These vermin are still performing rituals, stealing small children and draining their blood to make their sacred bread,” the posters warn.
German group targets hate videos on Google
BERLIN (JTA)—A German Jewish group has demanded that Google pull hate videos from its YouTube subsidiary. The Central Council of Jews in Germany filed a temporary injunction March 20 against Google, the U.S.-based search engine, in Hamburg District Court. The injunction “is lying on their desk and they asked for some patience,” Council President Stephan Kramer said of the court. A court spokesman told JTA that it would not comment until Google representatives had replied officially, which was delayed by the long Easter weekend. Among the offending videos was one in which a photo of the late president of the Central Council, Paul Spiegel, was burned against a background of swastikas. Google Germany spokesman Stefan Keuchel told reporters that the firm agrees that such material is an abuse of the public forum and has been seeking ways to block it. He said the public should report potentially illegal videos, which experts review and can remove.
‘Nazirock’ film debuts
ROME (JTA)—A new documentary film details the violent world of young Italian neo-fascists. “Nazirock,” directed by Claudio Lazzaro, shows fans chanting and giving the fascist salute at concerts by neo-Nazi bands extolling street violence. The 75-minute film includes interviews with members of neo-fascist groups, and shows footage of extremist rallies and clashes between right-wing soccer hooligans and police. “Nazirock” will be released on DVD on April 3—10 days before Italy’s general election. The Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera posted clips of “Nazirock” on its Web site,www.corriere.it/politica/08_marzo_21/nazirock_documentario_24efb340-f781-11dc-b233-0003ba99c667.shtml. Also see www.nazirock.it.
Saudi interfaith forum to include Jews
JERUSALEM (JTA)—Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah plans to convene an interfaith conference that will include Jews. The conference will include Muslims, Christians and Jews, according to the Saudi-owned Al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper. It would mark the first time that Jews have been included in religious dialogue in Saudi Arabia, according to Ha’aretz.