Sharon snubs BBC over ‘violation of journalistic ethics’

ISRAELI Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will boycott the BBC when he visits London next week.

Israel has not invited the BBC to Sharon’s briefing after talks with Prime Minister Tony Blair. The BBC has asked for an interview with Sharon during the visit, but this request is expected to be turned down, an Israeli newspaper has claimed.

The director of the Government Press Office, Danny Seaman, said that Israel had decided not to co-operate with the BBC in protest against “its anti-Israel coverage, which is characterised by violation of journalistic ethics and the broadcasting of baseless claims”.