Australian Broadcaster accused of favouring Israel in Gaza war coverage

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has been accused of favouring Israel in its coverage of the war in Gaza, with its staff expressing concerns that the coverage favoured the Israeli narrative over objective reporting, according to Al Jazeera.

The ABC staff highlighted several issues, including reliance on Israeli sources, language choices that allegedly favoured Israel, and a lack of balance in reporting Palestinian viewpoints. Staff members criticized the acceptance of Israeli facts without questioning and reluctance to use terms such as "war crimes," "genocide," and "occupation" when describing Israeli actions.

The document addressed to ABC managers and colleagues, outlined worries that the broadcaster stifled one narrative in favour of another, leading to audience distrust. Concerns were also raised about the lack of defence from management against attacks on staff expressing personal views on the conflict.

In response to the allegations, an ABC spokesperson declined to comment on confidential staff matters but emphasized the outlet's commitment to robust internal discussion and respect for staff input. The spokesperson cited the ABC Ombudsman's Office findings, which deemed the coverage of the Gaza conflict to be professional and reflective of newsworthy events.

Tensions within the ABC escalated further following the dismissal of freelance broadcaster Antoinette Lattouf, whose contract was terminated after sharing a report accusing the Israeli government of deliberate actions in Gaza. The move sparked criticism and a vote of no confidence against ABC management.

ABC's chair, Kim Williams, defended the broadcaster's impartiality, urging journalists to maintain objectivity in their work. However, concerns persist among staff about the potential alienation of certain audiences, including younger listeners.

Despite criticisms, some praised ABC's investigative program, "The Forever War," for its coverage of the conflict. Nevertheless, staff reiterated the need for balanced reporting and urged the broadcaster to reconsider its editorial policies, particularly regarding terminology related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.