BBC DENYS JERUSALEM AS ISRAELS CAPITAL

BBC Olympics website fudges Israel’s capital

JTA, Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Nir Barkat

JERUSALEM — The BBC has amended the information about the capitals of Israel and Palestine on its Olympics web page following complaints from Israel.Under the Israel entry, the British public broadcast system amended the site to say that the country’s “seat of government [is] Jerusalem, though most foreign embassies are in Tel Aviv.” It amended the Palestine entry to say that its “intended seat of government [is] East Jerusalem. Ramallah serves as administrative capital.”The website at first had listed “East Jerusalem” as the capital of Palestine and listed no capital for Israel – the only country with no capital listed.
After complaints from the public and a letter from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson Mark Regev, the BBC amended its site late last week.“Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel, and accordingly we respectfully request the immediate rectification of this matter,” Regev wrote.
“We will not accept those who deny our history, our sovereignty and our right to determine our own capital. Irrespective of the BBC’s political agenda, Jerusalem was, is, and will always be the capital of Israel and the spiritual, political and physical centre of the Jewish People," Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said in a statement.
Palestine has been recognized as a member of the Olympic Council of Asia since 1986 and of the International Olympic Committee since 1995.