As readers may recall, back in July the BBC’s coverage of commemoration of the mass arrest of French Jews in World War II did not include any mention of the French president’s remarks concerning anti-Zionism.
“Macron’s statement is of course in step with the IHRA working definition of antisemitism that was adopted in recent months by the British government and the EU parliament as well as in accord with the US State department’s definition. […] However, the BBC News website’s report on the ceremony made no mention whatsoever of the French president’s recognition of anti-Zionism as a manifestation of antisemitism.”
Moreover, several days later a regional BBC radio station described President Macron’s statement as a “very controversial claim” to its listeners.
During his recent visit to Israel the UN Secretary General told President Rivlin that:
“I do believe that […] those that call for the destruction of the State of Israel that that is a form of modern anti-Semitism”
Mr Guterres expressed the same view when he later met Prime Minister Netanyahu:
“…it is for me clear that to express that the right of existence of the state of Israel doesn’t exist or the wish to destroy the state of Israel is unacceptable form of modern than anti-Semitism.”
Those portrayals of anti-Zionism – the denial of the right of the Jewish people to self-determination in the land of Israel – as a modern form of antisemitism did not however appear in the BBC’s account of Mr Guterres’ visit.
“Earlier on Monday, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin urged Mr Guterres to work to end what he called “the discrimination against Israel in some branches” of the UN.
Mr Guterres said the UN would “always be very frank in the dialogue with the State of Israel”, but also “very committed to make sure that anti-Semitism doesn’t prevail and that equality in the treatment of all states is fully respected”.”
Once again, that omission will not come as a surprise to those familiar with the BBC’s own failure to accurately explain to its audiences the meaning of anti-Zionism and the corporation’s repeated misrepresentation of that term.
Related Articles:
BBC ignores UN SG’s admission of bias against Israel
BBC News tries – and fails – to explain antisemitism and anti-Zionism
BBC Radio Ulster promotes ‘Zionism is racism’ and the ‘apartheid’ smear
BBC News’ side-lining of French president’s anti-Zionism statement is no surprise
Video: Why Anti-Zionism = Racism (UK Media Watch)
