In fact BBC coverage has often used words such as "terrorist", "murder" and "atrocity" to describe Palestinian actions. Its coverage of Jenin was restrained compared with other channels and its main bulletins reported the statements of both sides without endorsing them, noting the Palestinians called it a "massacre" while the Israelis called it a "legitimate military operation". A suicide bomber who killed six Israelis was referred to as a "mass murderer".

Our work has also pointed to the vicious anti-semitism of some Islamist groups.
Prof Greg Philo
Glasgow Media Group

· Far from not daring to "incur the wrath of one of the most influential lobbies in the country", as John Pilger claims (Why my film is under fire, September 23), Radio 4 has already broadcast a far from timid examination of the (US) Jewish lobby. Fergal Keane and Aidan Laverty's Panorama, which explored whether Ariel Sharon could be indicted for war crimes was one of the most important documentaries made about the Middle East since the outbreak of the intifada.

Last week, Dr Swee Chai Ang presented a documentary on Radio 4, which I produced, marking the 20th anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacre - one of the only commemorations of the event in the British media.
Jo Glanville
London

· John Pilger's predictable polemic seeks to blow up the legitimate criticism of his squalid programme into an attack on freedom of speech. The truth is his programme was unashamedly biased and a historical distortion. It made no attempt to provide any context or perspective from the standpoint of Israel.

Two simple examples: first, his claim that "in 1948 the Arab world rose up when Palestinians were forced to flee from their homes in a blitz of fear and terror". What sort of historical accuracy ignores the invasion of Israel by five Arab armies and their call on the Arab communities to flee? Second, he describes Operation Defensive Shield earlier this year as a deliberate policy to destroy Palestinian culture, ignoring the wave of suicide bombings that provoked this operation and the refusal of the Palestinian Authority to take action?

Pilger implies that his film was so objective that no contrary view could be justifiable. It is perfectly possible to make a film about Israel which provides a more comprehensible and just depiction of the present conflict.