Where can I read impartial information?

[JeanGabin]

I'm trying to understand more about the Middle East conflict, but honestly finding it hard to find impartial information. I no longer have faith that the BBC are impartial given their initial reporting on October 7th. Everything seems to be from either a pro Palestine or pro Israel perspective.
I'm going to be listening to david Baddiel and Sayeda Warsi's podcast when it starts but any other suggestions?

If you want a Middle East perspective instead of a Uk perspective you could try Al Jazeera.

The rest is politics podcast sometimes discusses the Israel Gaza war.

It's worth mentioning here that Al Jezeera is funded by the Qatari State Government.

This is the same government that is giving some of the the leaders of Hamas safe haven.

So IMO it's hardly impartial.

I tend to read a combination of many sources (BBC, Al Jazeera, The Times of Israel, The New York Times, CBC, Reuters, etc). I then filter out information that has only been published in one of the sources, as typically genuine facts would make it through multiple credible journalists. It's not a foolproof system though and I'm sure some things that I believe are untrue, and things I have read and thought to be untrue are in fact genuine.

Unbiased journalism on this particular issue is basically non-existent, so I just do what I can to stay informed and think critically.

Thanks for the suggestions. It's so time consuming to sift through - a bit like the whole gender debate where main news sources just couldn't be trusted. I'm hoping the Baddiel / Warsi podcast will help - in that they'll present information from different sources and critique it, which would save some time and energy

The Economist (and their podcasts - some you need to subscribe for/some not) v good for impartial and statistical based reporting

My DH enjoys listening to the rest is politics. For reference, we're both sort of lefty-centrist pro-Israelis but not anti-anyone. He says the podcast sometimes makes for uncomfortable listening on this topic because it really does see things from all sorts of different angles and doesn't shy away from any of it. So sounds like a good starting point to me!

I wouldn’t focus on just one or two source’s - find as many as possible. It’s time consuming I know but it’s the only way.

Indeed Al Jazeera is unlikely to be impartial, but if you want to see how it's reported in other parts of the world it's useful. For example, the West Bank is always referred to as the 'occupied West Bank'.

There's an open source journalism site called bellingcat that has a couple of impartial investigations relating to Israel/Gaza.

They also have a few hints about how to geolocate satellite images, filter internet info, use online sources generally......how much time do you have?

We are bystanders. My stance is similar to @Humdingerydoo , the division it's causing in the UK is a real concern especially as some people want to turn it into a race issue, this is dangerously divisive.

There is no such thing as impartial journalism, everyone has their biases and it will be evident in their writing no matter how hard they try to put it aside. You’re better off reading a range of sources.

I would agree with looking at a range of sources, pick an issue and then see how it is being reported differently depending on what you read.

Is it a credible source? What is their interest in the war? What parts of the story are they focusing on or minimising?

It sounds like "the rest is politics" is worth a listen. Will take a look at the economist too. I get the need for was a range of sources, I really do, it's just so hard to be up to speed on everything. Bring back experts!!! It's such a shame that all news sources are partisan these days - maybe they always were, but I don't think so.

I share the centrist position, it's terrible seeing civilian deaths, it's also terrible seeing the unleashing of antisemitism.

Obviously not impartial but gives an condensed overview of the historic timeline and from my experience of information from a wide range of sources over the years, surprisingly seems pretty accurate!

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Arab%E2%80%93Israeli_conflict

I agree, and the Israeli newspaper Haaretz is good as it is willing to criticise Israel.

Unfortunately you cannot read full articles without signing up and paying. That might be worth doing. You can give your email and get first paragraphs, and a daily briefing.

There are good articles from the US sometimes too.

Al Jazeera is definitely worth seeing as long as you also look at the Israeli papers and U.K. based news to get a balance.

OP

If you want "impartial" information

Listen to Alkajezzera I think its called and Fox news or similar and decide for yourself what the real truth is

The fact of life is the first casualty of war is the truth - so good luck

I think on iPlayer and possibly You Tube you can see this which was made in 1998 when first hand accounts from many of those who were involved were still possible. It gives an excellent overview of the historic background.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p0glc7yp/the-fifty-years-war-israel-and-the-arabs

Because its internationally agreed legal status is the Occupied West Bank 🙄

'news' has always been partisan, it's a tool of the media.
We are not privy to the same information as the 'intelligence' services and they are not infallible unless you subscribe to the theory that 9/11 and 7/10 were fund raisers.
In this information age you'd be surprised at what's available to glean with time and resources but you won't find it on Mumsnet, this is vox pop.

Thanks for the links - looks like a good place to start.

Quantum, the internet has changed how news works - the volumes of information / disinformation are phenomenal to keep on top of for even one topic far or less to be able to have a nunced position on a number of issues.
Mumsnet is great - and was the place I thought to come here to ask. I know there will be a range of views, intelligent women and links to resources. I don't find any online forums discussing Israel / Palestine particularly helpful as there is very little cross pollination between the pro Israeli / pro Palestinian positions.
Thanks everyone for the suggestions and links, I'll take a look at them all

it is recognized as occupied including by our own government (link below). Regardless of views on Al Jazeera, the fact that some think it is controversial/ biased to refer to the West Bank as occupied just shows how challenging it is for basic facts to get through all the misinformation out there.

@JeanGabin I’d agree with getting a range of opinions and perspectives (both Palestinian and Israeli) from different sources. I think all the posters above have already given some good suggestions. However given that international journalists are not allowed into Gaza - if you want to see the reality on the ground from a regular Palestinian perspective by those who have lived/are living what’s happening, I’d recommend checking out some of these citizen journalists on Instagram.

motaz_azaiza (you can read his interview with the guardian and NYT here https://amp.theguardian.com/global-development/2024/feb/16/motaz-azaiza-interview-gaza-ghosts-photojournalist

wizard_bisan1 (currently in Rafah)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-67116407.amp

princekouta (a Canadian/palestinian nurse) one of the few reporting from the north of Gaza. He documents the daily struggle to survive and find food there)

there are loads more but just sharing a few in case of interest.

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/the-occupied-palestinian-territories

there’s also a thread on Journalists in Gaza on this board if you search for it.

sorry, linking their Instagram profiles in case that’s easier.

Motaz
https://www.instagram.com/motaz_azaiza?igsh=dTRzejhyYmpiODly

wizard bisan
https://www.instagram.com/wizard_bisan1?igsh=MTV1NThnNXZqcGxvag==

princekouta
https://www.instagram.com/princekouta?igsh=b2J6ZzZkaGxwNTZ5

@ConnieCounter Until recently The BBC didn't use to refer to it as the occupied West Bank! It was always just the West Bank.