Complaint
During a discussion about the dissolution of the Palestinian Parliament, the ±«Óãtv’s International Editor Jeremy Bowen suggested Palestinians were in favour of a two state solution.  A listener complained this was inaccurate and part of a biased narrative suggesting Palestinians were willing to be conciliatory, whereas the Israeli Government was not.  The ECU assessed the complaint against the standards for accuracy and impartiality set out in the ±«Óãtv Editorial Guidelines.Â
Outcome
The ECU noted Mr Bowen’s remark was made in the context of a discussion about the Palestinian Authority and believed it was best understood as a shorthand reference to the government he had been discussing, rather than the wider population or Hamas.  It was therefore duly accurate as the Authority continues to support a two-state solution.  The ECU also found no evidence of bias, given the discussion included reference to Palestinian factionalism and how many Palestinians had lost faith in the government of Mahmoud Abbas.
Not Upheld