BBC WORLD AT ONE AND JERUSALEM

Early day motion 500, tabled 28 March 2001 by John Austin (Labour). Signed by 35 members.

That this House notes that on Tuesday 27th March, in the World at One programme, the BBC referred to Jerusalem as 'Israel's capital'; further notes that apart from Costa Rica and El Salvador the remainder of the international community sees Israel as being in occupation of East Jerusalem and having only de facto control over West Jerusalem; reminds the BBC that the holy city is supposedly one of the subjects to be negotiated as part of the Middle East Peace Process and that in international law it is clear that Israel does not have sovereign claim to the city; believes that as a public service broadcaster the BBC should echo the near unanimous position of the international community and not that of the Israeli government; and believes that the solution to the issue of the status of Jerusalem should be one that takes into account all the national and religious claims and not just those of Israel.

Signatures by party: Labour 28, Liberal Democrat 4, Labour/Co-operative 2, Plaid Cymru 1.