The reports, from BBC Correspondent Yolande Knell, concerned clashes between Israeli Police and Palestinians at the mosque compound.  In the earlier bulletin Ms Knell reported police had entered the mosque and video showed “chaotic scenes” after they had entered what is the third-holiest site for Muslims. The complainant asked why only what the police said was happening was reported and not the Palestinian view. However the ECU took the view the latter was clear from the report – for instance, that what happened included the police using tear gas in a prayer room during Ramadan in what is viewed as an extremely holy place.  The later bulletin made clear that hundreds of Palestinians had been injured in the incident.  Ms Knell explained Israeli Police had used stun grenades and rubber bullets and batons.

In both cases the arguments of the Israeli Police on what they felt justified their actions were described, but listeners were given sufficient information to judge those actions for themselves and to take a view on the proportionality of the police response.  In the ECU’s view, to report what a police force does is not to endorse its actions and the word “police” would not have conferred legitimacy on its actions at the mosque in the minds of the audiences.
Not Upheld