According to sources, the Antisemitism Advisor for the Government has met with BBC Director-General in London to discuss’major concerns’ regarding BBC’s coverage of the Hannukah Bus Attack and Texas Synagogue Stand-Off.
The BBC boss Tim Davie and Lord John Mann spent nearly an hour meeting at Broadcasting House central London yesterday.
The pair discussed the outlet’s coverage of two events – last year’s Oxford Street Hanukkah bus threats incident and last weekend’s Texas synagogue hostage crisis, Jewish News reports.
After reporting an anti-Semitic incident at Oxford Street, on November 29th, the BBC caused fury. Video showed a group hurling abuse at Jewish teens sitting in a bus and then spitting at them.
Although the incident was treated by police as hate crime, BBC News stated that racial remarks about Muslims were heard in the bus.
This claim was criticized by British Jews’ Board of Deputies and Campaign Against Anti-Semitism. Lawyers acting for victims – who ‘categorically denied’ that the slur had been used – sent a letter to the corporation to challenge it.
Sources say that Mann raised concerns about the BBC’s coverage during yesterday’s meeting at Broadcast House. Mr Davie was open to listening, according to sources.
Lord Mann may have also expressed concern about the BBC News at 10 broadcast that did not include the word “antisemitism”, in connection to Colleyville’s synagogue siege.
Video footage showed the Jewish teens dancing during Hanukkah celebrations moments prior to the attack on November 29. After the teens boarded the bus, a group of men could be seen shouting abuse at and gesturing towards the bus.
Yesterday, Lord John Mann and BBC boss Tim Davie met in Broadcasting House, central London. It is believed that the latter stated there may be “a real problem” with coverage of anti-Jewish racial racism.
Source: “John [Mann]The BBC really worked very hard on the importance of reporting accurately on Texas. BBC was very conscious of its own goals to not include the word “antisemitism” in their reports.
BBC spokesmen said, “We value feedback and constructive inspection of our programming. We will always listen and reflect.” Meeting Lord Mann was positive and productive for the Director General.
Officers are currently investigating the incident on November 29, Oxford Street.
British Jews Board of Deputies requested an independent report, which was prepared by audio forensic experts and a language expert. The results concluded that no anti-Muslim insults were used.
The phrase was thought to have been a slur but it turned out that the Hebrew phrase ‘Tikrah lemishuze dachuf,’ which means: ‘Call someone urgently.
Marie van der Zyl, President of the Board of Deputies, wrote in The Jewish Chronicle that the BBC’s “misreporting” was a “colossal mistake”, which she called “a insult to injury by accusing antisemitic victims of being guilty of racism themselves”.
“What makes this an even more serious failure is BBC’s response to its error.” She said. The BBC has doubled or tripled the effort to admit it is wrong.
Ms Van der Zyl demanded that the corporation apologize publicly and indicated that the Board of Deputies would hold a meeting later this month with Director General Tim Davie. It will consist of a “full and frank discussion of these issues”.
She stated that the behaviour of the BBC toward Israelis and Jews raises serious questions.
The BBC maintained its reporting of the incident at the end of October. A spokesperson said that antisemitism was abhorrent. We are committed to serving the Jewish community and other communities throughout our country fairly.
“Our story was an objective report which overwhelmingly concentrated on those the police wanted to identify, the people who directed abuse towards the bus.
Malik Faisal Akram at the Dallas homeless shelter, January 2. On Saturday, the siege of Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville ended with gunfire. All four hostages were released and Akram was shot to death.
A protest was held outside Broadcasting House in December by hundreds of Jews. Participants waved banners and sang ‘BBC News, where is the proof’ The truth is out there!
“There was an inconsistency between the slur and what appeared to be coming from the bus. In order to determine if the slur was English-language, we consulted several Hebrew speakers.
“The incident brief was mentioned so we could give the best account.
Broadcasting House saw hundreds of Jews gather outside to protest the story. Participants held banners, chanting “BBC News Where’s the Proof!” The truth is out!