President Isaac Herzog with newly elected Costa Rican President Laura Fernández Delgado (Amos Ben-Gershom / GPO)

The News You Didn’t Hear About Last Week: Monday, May 18, 2026

President Herzog's visit to Costa Rica and Panama underscores expanding Israeli diplomatic ties to the region. Top ICC prosecutor says no evidence to show that Israel committed genocide in Gaza. First Palestinian submits complaint to ICC asking to prosecute Hamas for war crimes against Palestinians.

Two diplomats, two interviews: a BBC case study

Two different interviews, one with a Pakistani diplomat and one with an Israeli diplomat, showcase how the BBC uses language and framing to construct a narrative. This allows the corporation to purport to show both sides of a conflict, while presenting those sides in a way to whitewash one and vilify the other.

Framing and omission in BBC reporting on Israel-Lebanon talks

BBC audience understanding of the upcoming talks between Israel and Lebanon – and any future developments – would of course be greatly enhanced were the corporation to focus less on framing of the story and actually provide information concerning the stance of the terrorist organization that brought about the need for them in the first place and is apparently intent on ensuring that they do not succeed.

BBC News stirs a storm in a teacup

Obviously the prime aim of Davies’ reporting on this "much ado about nothing" story was to amplify the statement delegitimizing Israel that was put out by a collection of countries and organizations.