The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council has demanded ABC boss Michelle Guthrie explain a “massive omission” in its coverage of events on the Israeli border last week, accusing it of failing to adequately cover a Hamas rocket attack.
AIJAC executive director Colin Rubenstein said the public broadcaster had exhibited a “serious lack of balance” by declining to cover one of the largest rocket attacks against Israel in many years.
It adds to a barrage of complaints Ms Guthrie has fielded about ABC content from Communications Minister Mitch Fifield, in what some see as a pile-on against the broadcaster from hostile quarters.
International media reported at least 25 mortars were fired at Israel by militants on the Gaza Striplast Tuesday, in what the UK Independent newspaper described at “the single biggest attack from the Palestinian side since the 2014 Israel-Gaza war”.
It prompted a quick response from Israeli forces, though there were no reported casualties on either side. At least 110 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire this year, including more than 60 in one day earlier in May in retaliation to Hamas-led protests.
Dr Rubenstein said the ABC had run only two reports on its NewsRadio channel, sourced from the Al Jazeera network, and there was “no coverage” on the television news, flagship current affairs shows or the ABC website.
Fairfax Media could not independently verify the claim. An ABC spokeswoman said: “Any complaint will be subject to the normal process and we will respond in due course.”
Read the full article written by Michael Koziol at the Sydney Morning Herald.