UK
BBC editor hires lawyer after Owen Jones claims led to antisemitic death threats
The allegation that Raffi Berg pushed Israel bias at the BBC has led to a deluge of abuse towards the Jewish journalist
January 14, 2025 09:30
1 min read
The allegation that Raffi Berg pushed Israel bias at the BBC has led to a deluge of abuse towards the Jewish journalist
January 14, 2025 09:30The JC understands that a BBC editor is intending to sue Owen Jones after an article by the columnist and activist led to a torrent of antisemitic abuse, including death threats.
Raffi Berg, the BBC’s Middle East online editor, has received a flood of abuse after Jones penned a lengthy article published on Drop Site accusing the seasoned journalist of pushing an Israel bias at the corporation.
The JC has seen dozens of death threats sent to Berg over the claims made by Jones.
Police are understood to be investigating death threats. One insider said: "It was the worst case of targeted abuse [he'd] ever seen at the BBC."
A source close to Berg confirmed that he was taking legal advice against Owen Jones and others.
In a 9,000-word essay titled “The BBC’s civil war over Gaza,” Jones, a Guardian writer and YouTuber, claimed he had spoken to 13 anonymous BBC staffers who said they had concerns about Berg’s supposed pro-Israel bias.
Unnamed staff at the BBC allegedly accused Berg of “micromanaging” the section. According to Jones, his sources said he was guilty of “problematic editing”.
The BBC strongly rejected all allegations made against Berg in Jones’ article.
In response to Jones’ piece, a flood of other outlets and social media users accused Berg, who is Jewish, of working for Mossad.
During a protest at Swiss Cottage on Friday evening, one anti-Israel activist told the crowd: “We know that the BBC has somebody in it who is essentially part of Mossad. That's right, he speaks for the embassy.”
A petition calling for the resignation of BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness over the saga amassed over 8,000 signatures, while another demanded Berg's suspension.
Former Channel 4 news commissioner Tamara Abood set up the petition and claimed: “Raffi is the tip of the iceberg. Scratch the surface of the BBC and you will find it packed to the rafters with Zionists who will quash ideas for programmes that are critical of Israel and who will frame the reporting on Gaza to centre Israeli interests.”
“The BBC must commit to rooting out all its zionists,” Abood demanded.
Meanwhile Historian William Dalrymple shared a link to Jones’ article and claimed that Berg, who is not responsible for all of the BBC’s Israel reporting, has “tight control of all Middle Eastern reporting... has completely neutralised its ability to offer even token criticism of the Gaza Genocide.”
Dozens of accounts have attacked Berg on social media, with graphic threats explicitly mentioning his Jewishness.
Users called Berg a “pig”, “Zionist scum”, “Nazi” and “child killer” and accused Berg of being a child abuser.
Berg’s lawyer, Mark Lewis, confirmed he had been instructed to consider claims.
Jones was approached for comment.