The ZF condemns the BBC for broadcasting a sketch that
not only propogates the oldest and most baseless stereotypes about Israelis,
but also ridicules anti-Semitism at a time when anti-Jewish bigotry is on the
rise.
BBC 3’s ‘The Revolution Will Be Televised’ programme,
broadcast in December, included a candid camera sketch where the presenters
dress up as workmen and pretend to be representatives for the Israeli Embassy.
The presenters then begin informing local property owners that the embassy is
taking their land for a variety of spurious reasons – mocking Israel for its
supposedly expansionist policies.
The satirical explanations given to the members of the
public perpetrate the oldest stereotypes about Israel’s alleged attempts to
justify its supposedly illegitimate presence in the Middle East: “Before it was
your land it was our land, so we are really going to take what was rightfully
ours,” “This is our land that was given to us by the Almighty,” and “We’ve been
doing it for years.”
Given that such one-sided and prejudiced portrayals of
Israel contribute to anti-Jewish bigotry, perhaps the most shocking aspect of
the programme is the open ridiculing of complaints about anti-Semitism. When one
member of the public expresses amusement at the situation, a presenter tells
him: “I’m finding that smile a bit anti-Semitic… so I think you should really
wipe it off your face” - suggesting that anti-Semitism is not a valid concern.
It is hard to imagine that the BBC would allow racism against another minority
group to treated in this way.
ZF Chairman Paul Charney added:
“No doubt the makers of ‘The Revolution Will be
Televised” thought they were being tremendously edgy and brave, mocking Israel
by suggesting it takes land with impunity. Instead, they simply pandered to the
prejudices of those who believe that the less-than-one-percent of the Middle
East which is devoted to Jewish national self-determination is still too
much.
“This biased viewpoint would be woefully inaccurate at
the best of times, but it seems especially egregious given that Israel is not
only currently negotiating with the express desire of ceding land to the
Palestinians, but continues to release convicted murderers just to keep them at
the negotiating table. But I’m sure the makers of this programme will turn their
sights on Israel ’s neighbours soon enough. The PA’s glorification of
terrorists? The collapse of democracy in Egypt ? Syria ’s civil war? Or maybe
the lack of human rights in the rest of the Middle East just isn’t that much of
a laughing matter?”
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