In October 2005 the BBC Governors commissioned the Independent Panel, chaired by Sir Quentin Thomas, to "assess the impartiality of BBC news and current afairs coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with particular regard to accuracy, fairness, context, balance and bias."

The Panel reviewed BBC output, visited the region, considered written submissions from interested organisations and individuals and called witnesses. It also studied content analysis and audience research conducted by Loughborough University and Opinion Leader Research respectively.

Between 3 October and 25 November 2005 the Panel invited written submissions from anyone who wanted to comment on the BBC's coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

CAABU submitted a report in November 2005 (see below) and gave oral evidence in January 2006.

The Board of Governors published the Independent Panel's report in April 2006 and requested BBC Management to consider its findings and recommendations and submit their response to the Governors at their June Board meeting.

CAABU's response to the report from the independent panel for the BBC Governors on impartiality of BBC Coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - 2nd May 2006

Related reports

Bowen Middle East role 'enhanced' - BBC, 19th June 2006

Israel and the Palestinians: Key Terms
"The BBC Governors' independent panel report on the impartiality of BBC coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict recommended that the BBC should make public an abbreviated version of its journalists' guide to facts and terminology. "