CAA writes to BBC following presenter’s claim that “Israeli forces are happy to kill children”

Campaign Against Antisemitism is writing to the BBC after one of its presenters stated that “Israeli forces are happy to kill children.”

The suggestion came during an interview on BBC News with the former Prime Minister of Israel, Naftali Bennett, about Israel’s current military operation in Jenin. 

When speaking on the topic of the targets of the operation, Anjana Gadgil, the presenter who conducted the interview, stated: “The Israeli forces are happy to kill children.”

Mr Bennett robustly rejected the baseless assertion (including by noting that the seventeen-year-olds were armed combatants).

The notion that the military of the state of Israel – the Jewish state – is “happy” to kill minors draws on the symbolism of the blood libel.

According to the International Definition of Antisemitism, “Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g. claims of Jews killing Jesus or blood libel) to characterise Israel or Israelis” is an example of antisemitism.

The original antisemitic blood libel dates to 1144, when Jews in England were falsely accused of the murder of a boy known as William of Norwich.

Incidents of blood libel grew in the Middle Ages, with Jews accused of murdering Christian children in order to use their blood in Passover rituals. In 1290, it was a pretext for the confiscation of all Jewish property and the complete expulsion of Jews from England. They were not permitted to return until centuries later. The blood libel has been a case of much persecution and murder of Jews ever since, including up to the present day.

In the modern era, updated versions of the blood libel continue to pervade antisemitic discourse.  Contemporary manifestations include the accusation that Jews or the Jewish state steal human organs, drink or utilise the blood of non-Jews, or willfully and readily murder non-Jewish – particularly Arab – children.

The news comes one day after Campaign Against Antisemitism wrote to The Guardian following its description of the Jenin camp as a “ghetto-like area”. 

Campaign Against Antisemitism monitors traditional media and regularly holds outlets to account. If members of the public are concerned about reportage in the media, they should contact us at [email protected].