Near East Broadcasting Station
Encyclopedia
The Near East Broadcasting Station (also Sharq-el-Adna, Voice of Britain) started broadcasting in Arabic in 1941/1942 from Jaffa
, Mandate of Palestine. It was fully financed and run by the British
government. The goal of the broadcasts were to "entice Arabs to join British and British-backed military forces, as well as to maintain political and economic stability in Palestine". The broadcasts were also started as an answer to similar propaganda radio stations broadcasting in Arabic set up first by Mussolini
, later the German Nazi
regime. The British also looked beyond World War II
, as they wanted to remain an influence in the Middle East, where oil had been discovered in the early 1930s.
The station first started operation under the name Freedom Broadcasting Station, using Royal Air Force
equipment in Jaffa. It was under the full control of the British Special Operations Executive
and initially concerned itself with broadcasting to the Balkans
. However, from an early point, it also broadcast in Arabic. The material broadcast at SOE's direction sometimes clashed with material broadcast by more official British stations and caused disputes within the British Directorate of Propaganda. In March 1943, the station was handed over to the Political Warfare Executive
. After the war, it became a Foreign Office
responsibility and, although its legal status was changed into that of a commercial broadcaster, the British government kept firm control.
From the beginning the identify of the station's owner and operator was an official secret
. Officially, Britain had nothing to do with the Near East Broadcasting Station, Britain only acknowledged responsibility for the BBC
and its widely respected "Arab service". As late as 16 June 1948, in response to a Parliamentary Question
, Foreign Secretary
Ernest Bevin
denied that the station was run by the British Foreign Office Information Department, claiming instead that it was "operated by a group of people connected with the Arabs".
Just before the British left Palestine, in early May 1948, the station was moved to Cyprus
(which still was under British control). In Cyprus the station initially used four short-wave transmitter
s near Limasol.
After the armistice in 1948, the station seemed to be aiming to make the programs as popular as possible, thereby attracting advertisers. News and music were large ingredients. The station had a staff of about 70 in Cyprus, in addition to many news correspondents around the Arab world. In the early 1950s the potential audience size increased greatly, as they also started transmitting on a medium-wave transmitter.
The radio station's association with the British was not a secret to the observant listener, as the British politician Barbara Castle
wrote in 1956 that the station ‘kept in touch with the Foreign Office and had helped to “sell” British policy, as well as British exports, in Arab countries – all the more successfully because it was not tied to official directives’. British historian Peter Partner wrote that, "Few people who listened to the station were in much doubt that there was a British hand in its control, though no one, naturally, knew what official body in Britain was responsible."
, nationalized the Suez Canal Company
, which operated the Suez Canal. During the ensuing Suez Crisis
, France
and Britain
supported Israel
's invasion of Egypt
. Very early in the Suez Crisis
, it was revealed that the Near East Broadcasting Station was under the control of either British intelligence, the British military, or both. Renamed the "Voice of Britain", it started broadcasting anti-Nasser news and messages asking civilians to keep clear of military targets. "Voice of the Arabs", broadcasting from Egypt, said that the ‘Near East Broadcasting Station ... was in reality run by the British intelligence service’. Almost all of the Near East Broadcasting Station Arab staff announced on air that they supported Egypt, and were promptly fired . The station changed name to "Voice of Britain". The station was turned over to the BBC
at the end of March 1957.
Jaffa
Jaffa is an ancient port city believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Jaffa was incorporated with Tel Aviv creating the city of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel. Jaffa is famous for its association with the biblical story of the prophet Jonah.-Etymology:...
, Mandate of Palestine. It was fully financed and run by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
government. The goal of the broadcasts were to "entice Arabs to join British and British-backed military forces, as well as to maintain political and economic stability in Palestine". The broadcasts were also started as an answer to similar propaganda radio stations broadcasting in Arabic set up first by Mussolini
Benito Mussolini
Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini was an Italian politician who led the National Fascist Party and is credited with being one of the key figures in the creation of Fascism....
, later the German Nazi
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
regime. The British also looked beyond World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, as they wanted to remain an influence in the Middle East, where oil had been discovered in the early 1930s.
The station first started operation under the name Freedom Broadcasting Station, using Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
equipment in Jaffa. It was under the full control of the British Special Operations Executive
Special Operations Executive
The Special Operations Executive was a World War II organisation of the United Kingdom. It was officially formed by Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Minister of Economic Warfare Hugh Dalton on 22 July 1940, to conduct guerrilla warfare against the Axis powers and to instruct and aid local...
and initially concerned itself with broadcasting to the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
. However, from an early point, it also broadcast in Arabic. The material broadcast at SOE's direction sometimes clashed with material broadcast by more official British stations and caused disputes within the British Directorate of Propaganda. In March 1943, the station was handed over to the Political Warfare Executive
Political Warfare Executive
During World War II, the Political Warfare Executive was a British clandestine body created to produce and disseminate both white and black propaganda, with the aim of damaging enemy morale and sustaining the morale of the Occupied countries....
. After the war, it became a Foreign Office
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, commonly called the Foreign Office or the FCO is a British government department responsible for promoting the interests of the United Kingdom overseas, created in 1968 by merging the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Office.The head of the FCO is the...
responsibility and, although its legal status was changed into that of a commercial broadcaster, the British government kept firm control.
From the beginning the identify of the station's owner and operator was an official secret
Official Secrets Act
The Official Secrets Act is a stock short title used in the United Kingdom, Ireland, India and Malaysia and formerly in New Zealand for legislation that provides for the protection of state secrets and official information, mainly related to national security.-United Kingdom:*The Official Secrets...
. Officially, Britain had nothing to do with the Near East Broadcasting Station, Britain only acknowledged responsibility for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and its widely respected "Arab service". As late as 16 June 1948, in response to a Parliamentary Question
Question Time
Question time in a parliament occurs when members of the parliament ask questions of government ministers , which they are obliged to answer. It usually occurs daily while parliament is sitting, though it can be cancelled in exceptional circumstances...
, Foreign Secretary
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, commonly referred to as the Foreign Secretary, is a senior member of Her Majesty's Government heading the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and regarded as one of the Great Offices of State...
Ernest Bevin
Ernest Bevin
Ernest Bevin was a British trade union leader and Labour politician. He served as general secretary of the powerful Transport and General Workers' Union from 1922 to 1945, as Minister of Labour in the war-time coalition government, and as Foreign Secretary in the post-war Labour Government.-Early...
denied that the station was run by the British Foreign Office Information Department, claiming instead that it was "operated by a group of people connected with the Arabs".
Just before the British left Palestine, in early May 1948, the station was moved to Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
(which still was under British control). In Cyprus the station initially used four short-wave transmitter
Transmitter
In electronics and telecommunications a transmitter or radio transmitter is an electronic device which, with the aid of an antenna, produces radio waves. The transmitter itself generates a radio frequency alternating current, which is applied to the antenna. When excited by this alternating...
s near Limasol.
After the armistice in 1948, the station seemed to be aiming to make the programs as popular as possible, thereby attracting advertisers. News and music were large ingredients. The station had a staff of about 70 in Cyprus, in addition to many news correspondents around the Arab world. In the early 1950s the potential audience size increased greatly, as they also started transmitting on a medium-wave transmitter.
The radio station's association with the British was not a secret to the observant listener, as the British politician Barbara Castle
Barbara Castle
Barbara Anne Castle, Baroness Castle of Blackburn , PC, GCOT was a British Labour Party politician....
wrote in 1956 that the station ‘kept in touch with the Foreign Office and had helped to “sell” British policy, as well as British exports, in Arab countries – all the more successfully because it was not tied to official directives’. British historian Peter Partner wrote that, "Few people who listened to the station were in much doubt that there was a British hand in its control, though no one, naturally, knew what official body in Britain was responsible."
1956 Suez Crisis
In 1956 the Egyptian leader, Gamal Abdel NasserGamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was the second President of Egypt from 1956 until his death. A colonel in the Egyptian army, Nasser led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 along with Muhammad Naguib, the first president, which overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan, and heralded a new period of...
, nationalized the Suez Canal Company
Suez Canal Company
The Universal Suez Ship Canal Company was the Egyptian corporation which was formed by Ferdinand de Lesseps during 1858, constructed the Suez Canal between 1859 and 1869, and owned and operated it for many years thereafter...
, which operated the Suez Canal. During the ensuing Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
supported Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
's invasion of Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Very early in the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
, it was revealed that the Near East Broadcasting Station was under the control of either British intelligence, the British military, or both. Renamed the "Voice of Britain", it started broadcasting anti-Nasser news and messages asking civilians to keep clear of military targets. "Voice of the Arabs", broadcasting from Egypt, said that the ‘Near East Broadcasting Station ... was in reality run by the British intelligence service’. Almost all of the Near East Broadcasting Station Arab staff announced on air that they supported Egypt, and were promptly fired . The station changed name to "Voice of Britain". The station was turned over to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
at the end of March 1957.
Sources
- Douglas A. Boyd, Sharq al-Adna/The Voice of Britain, The UK's 'Secret' Arabic Radio Station and Suez War Propaganda Disaster, Gazette: The International Journal for Communication Studies, Vol 65, No 6 (2003) 443-445.http://gaz.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/65/6/443 (Boyd is in the Department of Communication and the School of Journalism and Telecommunications, at the University of KentuckyUniversity of KentuckyThe University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
.) - Peter Partner, Arab Voices, The BBC Arabic Service 1938-1988 (British Broadcasting Corporation, 1988).