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Date : 07.05.2008
Printable version

The ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ marks the 60th anniversary of the creation of Israel this week with special programming and news coverage across TV and radio, and a dedicated website.

Specially commissioned to recognise the anniversary, Our World: Jaffa Stories takes a unique look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Focusing on the human stories behind the headlines, the programme – shown on ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World News - looks at the real lives of both Arabs and Jews. Jaffa, one of the world's oldest ports, was mentioned in the Bible and has seen much conflict in its long history. Now it's a mixed city in Israel where Jews and Arabs live and work side by side. Jaffa Stories asks how deep the co-existence runs.

The programme is based on the critically-acclaimed book City Of Oranges: Arabs And Jews In Jaffa by British author and journalist Adam LeBor. The book was praised by both Jewish and Arab press, was shortlisted for the 2007 Jewish Quarterly Wingate Literary Prize and was an editor's choice in the New York Times.

A dedicated website – – features a full history of the state, including maps which illustrate how it has evolved since 1948. The site also includes the diary of Middle East correspondent Tim Franks and a profile of the only survivor from the ceremony declaring Israel's independence.

³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World News will broadcast live coverage of events being held to mark the anniversary. ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ correspondent Katya Adler will be in Tel Aviv on 8 May talking to Israeli and Palestinian families about how they view Independence Day.

Completing the tri-media coverage, ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ World Service radio has a dedicated schedule of coverage. Israel At 60: Has Zionism Worked? is a special one-hour debate, bringing together leading Israeli thinkers to assess the history of the state and challenges for the future. Plus the ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳'s David Goldblatt spends time with the players and fans of Beitar Jerusalem Football Club which has banned Arab players from the squad, to find out how football and politics are linked.

Our World: Jaffa Stories
Wednesday 7 May at 1930; Thursday 8 at 0930 and 1230 (AP only); Friday 9 at 1530; Saturday 10 at 0130 (Not Asia Pacific, Middle East or South Asia) and 1030; Sunday at 1330 (not South Asia or Asia Pacific) and 1830 (not ME, NAM or LAM); Monday at 0230 (not SA, ME or AP) and 0730. All times are GMT.


For more details contact bbcworldnewspressoffice@bbc.co.uk