With antisemitic violence on the rise in Europe, CAMERA convened a panel discussion in Jerusalem on March 1 entitled “Framing Israel: Framing Jews: Examining the effects of UK media coverage of Israel on European antisemitism.” In light of recent polling which indicates that over 80 percent of British Jews believe that biased coverage of Israel incites antisemitism, the panelists explored how UK media coverage of Israel influences attitudes towards Jews in Europe and fuels extremism.
Speakers on the panel included Professor Robert S. Wistrich, Neuberger Chair of Modern European and Jewish History at the Hebrew University Jerusalem, Head of the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism and author of A Lethal Obsession: Antisemitism from Antiquity to the Global Jihad (2010); Lucille Cohen, former President of the Zionist Central Council and the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and representative to the Board of Deputies of British Jews; Adam Levick, managing editor of UK Media Watch (formerly CiF Watch), a CAMERA affiliate and Hadar Sela, managing editor of BBC Watch, a CAMERA affiliate.
Prof. Wistrich painted a gloomy picture for the future of the Jewish community in the UK and British society in general and warned of the prospect of a small minority of alienated young radicals undermining the stability of Jews in the UK.
Adam Levick presented examples of reports and cartoons in the British press which conveyed both overt and covert antisemitic content, with particular reference to the modern uses of the ancient antisemitic blood libel.
Hadar Sela examined what sort of standards the BBC, the world’s biggest broadcaster and self-declared “standard-setter for international journalism,” sets for the corporation’s framing of events in Israel set.
Lucille Cohen described the reaction of the UK Jewish community to increasing antisemitism and the effects of anti-Israel bias in the media.
Moderated by Jerusalem journalist and Voice of Israel broadcaster Judy Lash-Balint, the event marked the launch of UK Media Watch, formerly CiF Watch.