The world is very unhappy over Israel's outrageous invasion of Gaza and it's taking it out on the BBC. So far the BBC has had over 20,000 complaints over its decision not to an air an appeal by charities supplying aid to Gaza (saying it would compromise its impartiality). The corporation is burning the midnight oil agonising over its decision (which never helps) and director general Mark Thompson, the man who took the decision, could be on his bike before too long. But a lot of thinking journalists think the BBC, and Sky, which has taken the same decision, had no option. This is in part because it's been hammered by Israel for being 'biased' against it in reporting events in the Middle East (and it has a report gathering dust in the basement saying exactly this), it's about the Israelis making life even more difficult for BBC correspondents in the region (and they can make life very difficult, by 'accidentally' shooting at you for a start) and the nature of such appeals is that they're fronted by broadcasters, who are also the presenters of news and current affairs programmes. So the Beeb is getting it in the neck when really the ire is aimed at Israel. But it's still dangerous to oppose Israel if you're a Westerner because you'll be accused of being anti-semitic and a Holocaust denier. This is a case where the BBC needs a strong chairman, like Chris Bland who used to mind Greg Dyke's back in his early days. But it hasn't got one and it will get worse and worse for the BBC.