Complaint
A viewer complained about a reference to comments by the prospective MP Azhar Ali as being 鈥渁辫辫补谤别苍迟濒测 antisemitic鈥. 聽The complainant considered this risked conflating legitimate criticism of Israel with antisemitism. The ECU considered whether the remark met the standards for due accuracy and impartiality set out in the Editorial Guidelines.
Outcome
Mr Ali had claimed the government of Israel had 鈥渄别濒颈产别谤补迟别濒测鈥 allowed the 7 October attacks to occur, so that they had 鈥渢he green light鈥 to do what they wanted in the region. He was subsequently reported to have said the suspension of Andy McDonald from the Labour Party was caused by "people in the media from certain Jewish quarters". 聽In the light of this, the ECU took the view that reference to these remarks as 鈥渁辫辫补谤别苍迟濒测鈥 antisemitic would be unlikely to mislead viewers or give the the impression of taking sides. The word 鈥渁辫辫补谤别苍迟濒测鈥 made clear some degree of dispute was attached to the question whilst the introduction to the report referred to comments which had 鈥渁濒濒别驳别诲濒测鈥 been made. 聽The report also featured Anas Sarwar of Scottish Labour making the distinction between legitimate criticism of Israel and comments which were antisemitic and stressing the importance of distinguishing the two.
Not Upheld