Ofcom clears Al Jazeera of anti-semitism charges

Al Jazeera Media Network, that was facing allegations of anti-semitism for broadcasting a four-part undercover series that revealed the Israeli embassy’s attempts to influence British citizens critical of Israel including British Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan, has been cleared of all charges by the United Kingdom’s communications regulator, Ofcom. (Please refer to page 20 for complete decision.)

Al Jazeera’s coverage had shown Shai Masot, formerly a senior Israeli embassy official in London, saying he would “take down” MPs including Sir Alan Duncan, the Foreign Office minister who is an outspoken supporter of a Palestinian state. Subsequently, Masot tendered his resignation, according to a Guardian report.

Dismissing the complaints received from a number of pro-Israeli British activists, including one former Israeli embassy employee, Ofcom ruled that the Qatar-based broadcaster did not breach broadcasting rules 2.3 (offensive matter) and rule 5.5 (impartiality) in its coverage of UK’s pro-Israel lobby. The British regulator had received two standards complaints raising a range of issues including allegations of Al Jazeera‘s The Lobby being anti-semitic and impartial.

However, the Ofcom report stated, “Complainants considered that the programme only took a one-sided view on this matter. However, we considered that the viewpoint of the Israeli government was included in the programme in a number of linked ways.” The report added that while the documentary was critical of Israel, it wasn’t anti-semitic, as was perceived by the complainants.

Responding to Ofcom’s decision, Al Jazeera said in a statement, “This goes to show that no matter what Al Jazeera’s critics say, its journalism meets and exceeds the highest standards of objectivity and balance. We feel vindicated by the rulings and evermore committed to exposing human rights violations by anyone.”

Ofcom’s decision comes at a time when the broadcaster is facing a threat of a shutdown from at least four Arab states.