January 27, 2009	Tuesday	Muharram 29, 1430

LONDON, Jan 26: Britain’s Sky News on Monday joined the BBC in refusing to broadcast a Gaza charity appeal despite pressure from ministers and demonstrators, saying it risked the television channel’s objectivity.

The BBC’s refusal to air the appeal has further angered pro-Palestinian campaigners who believe the broadcaster was biased towards Israel in its coverage of the Gaza conflict. But Sky News, the BBC’s only domestic rival as a 24-hour television news channel, said on Monday that it too felt it could not risk airing the appeal.

“The conflict in Gaza forms part of one of the most challenging and contentious stories for any news organisation to cover,” John Ryley, head of Sky News, said in a statement.

“The absolute impartiality of our output is fundamental to Sky News and its journalism.

“That is why, after very careful consideration, we have concluded that broadcasting an appeal for Gaza at this time is incompatible with our role in providing balanced and objective reporting of this continuing situation to our audiences in the UK and around the world.”—AFP