B’nai B’rith UK welcomes Ofcom’s BBC ruling

By BBUK In Advocacy, Statements On 12 November 2022

Jeremy Havardi – Director, BBUK Bureau of International Affairs 

B’nai B’rith UK welcomes Ofcom’s ruling that the BBC had ‘failed to observe its editorial guidelines on due impartiality and due accuracy’ in its reporting of an antisemitic attack in Oxford Street last year. The watchdog’s verdict makes clear that the BBC was wrong to stand by its allegation that Jewish victims used a racial slur inside the bus without reporting that this claim was disputed, especially by the Jewish victims themselves. This too was the thrust of B’nai B’rith UK’s own complaint to the broadcaster. It is clear that this incident reflects wider concerns about how the BBC reports on Jews, antisemitism and Israel and how it fails to ensure that its coverage has the balance and objectivity required. B’nai B’rith UK fully supports calls for a parliamentary debate on how the BBC tackles coverage of these sensitive issues and the steps it must take to re-establish credibility.