BBC has been criticised by Jewish leaders for broadcasting a programme hours after the Manchester synagogue attack where an expert blamed Israel and the British government for the atrocity that claimed two lives.
The broadcaster aired the news talk show called The World This Evening on its controversial Arabic service channel, which is part of the licence-payer-funded BBC World Service.
In the show, broadcast on Thursday evening to millions in the UK and across the Arab world, presenter Mohammed Saif Al-Nasr interviewed a Jewish rabbi called Jonathan Romain, and a Cambridge-based Midde East expert called Dr Makram Khoury-Machool, a Palestinian himself.
During the 14-minute exchange, the two guests were asked about the attack by Jihad Al-Shamie, 35, on the Heaton Park synagogue earlier in the day, which left two Jewish worshippers dead and three injured.
Police shot dead Al-Shamie himself, who was carrying a knife and fake suicide device on him.
Whilst British and Muslim leaders in the UK condemned the terrorist attack, Dr Khoury-Machool appeared to blame the British government and the support of Jewish leaders of the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s war.
Dr Khoury-Machool said: ‘The Jewish community and the British government cannot treat such an incident in Britain as though it fell from the sky, and suddenly the perpetrator carried out the attack and assaulted a Jewish synagogue.
‘The British government must inquire on its own police and statements.
‘When we listen to the Jewish leadership, they either support the Israeli occupation, and most of them do – it is not possible for a British Jewish leader to endorse Netanyahu’s crimes and not expect there to be reactions on the British street.’
The presenter, Mr Al-Nasr, did not appear to challenge Dr Khoury-Machool. He then turned to Rabbi Romain, and asked him: ‘Perhaps some the positions and statements of Jewish leaders here in Britain may support Israeli policies in Gaza and may contribute to fuelling these tensions.’
Rabbi Romain, who is based at the Maidenhead Synagogue in Berkshire, responded by saying that he did not agree with that.
He added that Jews in the UK had differing views on the Gaza war.
The Rabbi said: ‘Whether they support Israel or not, there is no justification for attacking them. Israel itself [on the Gaza war] is divided within itself. Netanyahu’s government only enjoys 50 per cent of support.’
But Dr Khoury-Machool – who described the war in Gaza as ‘cleansocide’ or ethnic cleansing and genocide – went on to blame the terrorist’s grievance to the ‘extreme slowness of the British regarding a sympathetic response to the Palestinians.’
Dr Khoury-Machool said: ‘Suppose he [attacker] is from a Muslim or Arab background, do you think his grievances have built up in the last few days listening to Keir Starmer and the very late recognition of a Palestine state?’
Thursday’s episode of the World This Evening is the latest controversy to hit BBC Arabic, which has previously faced multiple accusations of peddling hatred against Jews.
Several of its journalists were found on social media to have celebrated Oct 7 attacks, although it is not clear if any were removed from their positions.
Danny Cohen former director of BBC Television said: ‘It is utterly appalling that a BBC Service gave a platform to a man who blamed Jews for a terrorist attack on a synagogue.
‘To make matters worse, BBC Arabic’s presenter did not challenge these disgraceful statements. BBC Arabic has been a consistent source of anti-Semitism for over two years now.
‘Yet BBC News’ bosses continue to publicly deny that there are serious problems of racism on this BBC platform.’
The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (CAMERA), which monitors anti-Semitic bias in Middle east reporting, has criticised the BBC for broadcasting the programme.
A spokesman said: ‘More than anything, the way Thursday night’s BBC Arabic panel was staged reminded us of the old saying: “The antisemite does not accuse the Jew of stealing because he thinks he stole something. He does it because he enjoys watching the Jew turn out his pockets to prove his innocence.”
‘That this was done less than ten hours after Thursday’s devastating attack makes it all the more infuriating.’
Last night, the BBC said in a statement: ‘Following the horrific synagogue attack, The World This Evening’s presenter moderated a live discussion between three guests, giving them equal opportunity to express their views and challenge each other’s points, which they did. All guests categorically condemned the attack.’
