Galloway not impartial shock!

That Engage site has got its uses. I just had one of their groupies complaining that I was on their case while lots of people are being killed in Palestine and Lebanon. Well I checked the Engage site to catch up on their position on the current situation and, lo and behold, they haven't got one. They have however got an article complaining that George Galloway's radio talk show is biased against Israel. Remember Engage claims to exist to combat antisemitism. Does this mean that they are accusing George Galloway of antisemitism? Why have the article if it's not about antisemitism? Ah yes. To defend Israel and attack a critic of Israel of course. That's what Engage exists for. I've just noticed that they got their article from Harry's Place. I don't think the latter even pretend to be combatting antisemitism.

Anyway George has been causing a bit of a stir on his radio programme on Talk Sport. It's the Jewish Telegraph that has the article:

The firebrand MP's programme on Talk Sport may have breached Ofcom�s guidelines on impartiality which govern the station�s output.

He has been accused of using Saturday�s three hours on air to galvanise opposition towards the Jewish state � without attempting to add any balance.

Board of Deputies Chief Executive Jon Benjamin warned: "An entirely one-sided show can only raise tensions here." Only a few listeners were allowed to challenge the Respect Party leader's tirades, which included branding Israel an "American colonial enterprise."

Israel's supporters, he claimed, "are involved in a systematic deception of public opinion". One Jewish caller was branded "racist" when trying to condemn Islamic terrorists.

Another attempting to discuss the Palestinian rockets raining down on the Israeli town of Sderot was told: "Just you calm down."

And he had the audacity to warn a later caller: "Don't hurl pro-Israel epithets at me."

Galloway has been accused of �bullying� anyone who attempted to defend the fight against terrorism by cutting them off and repeatedly intervening.

But his supporters' ramblings were unabridged and praised for their "genuine indignation".

Occasional Talk Sport presenter Uri Geller led the chorus of criticism.

The paranormalist said: "I am outraged that Galloway was allowed to host a mostly one-sided phone-in."

"I have been on the station many times, including with my own programme" but have never used it as a one-sided podium.

"Supporters of Israel should unite and complain to ensure more balance on the station."

Manchester-based media monitor Frank Baigel added: "He told a couple of lies and was very obnoxious. He acted as a bully to any caller who didn�t agree with him."

Galloway admitted during the show: "I'm not remotely impartial."

Five listeners have complained to radio watchdog Ofcom that he could be in breach of their code on "due impartiality". Section 5.9 says: "Presenters must not use the advantage of regular appearances to promote their views in a way that compromises the requirement for due impartiality."

"Presenter phone-ins must encourage and must not exclude alternative views."

A radio industry insider insisted: "When people were put on with a different opinion he tied them up in rhetorical knots. The station should have had the responsibility to give the other side a fair hearing."

A Talk Sport spokesman admitted that Galloway's show was a "platform for his politics", while insisting that a one-sided debate against Israel was comparable with a pro-England football phone-in.

Programme Director Bill Ridley maintained: "The broad policy would be similar but the subjects are so different." I'd encourage people to come on and challenge his views. "I don't think there was any case where people were not allowed to say what they felt."

The JT then adds the web address for Ofcom: www.ofcom.org.uk