France 24 suspends four journalists over allegations of antisemitism

France 24 has suspended four journalists in connection with allegations of antisemitism.

The announcement by the French state-owned network, which broadcasts in French, English, Arabic and Spanish, came following a report by the media watchdog CAMERA into the social media output of Joelle Maroun, France 24’s correspondent in Beirut, its Jerusalem reporter Laila Odeh, Geneva correspondent Dina Abi-Saab and reporter Sharif Bibi.

Ms Maroun is claimed to have tweeted: “They asked Hitler, ‘What did you do with the Jews?’ He said, ‘Nothing extraordinary, [just having] barbecue with the guys.” On another occasion, she allegedly tweeted, “Rise, sir Hitler, rise, there are a few people that need to be burned.”

Ms Odeh, the sister of a Fatah terrorist killed in fighting with the IDF, allegedly tweeted: “Because I am a Palestinian refugee, I demand of the Arab League to arm me so that I retrieve my land which Israel has unlawfully occupied. And because I am a sister of a martyr, I demand of the Arab League to arm me so that I retrieve the body of my martyr brother.” She also allegedly described Moshe Agadi, a 58-year-old father of four who was killed during a Hamas rocket strike, as an “Israeli settler in Ashkelon,” implying that the Jewish presence in the coastal Israeli city is not legitimate.

The journalists have been suspended pending an investigation, which, according to Le Figaro, will be conducted by France Médias Monde, a state-owned company that supervises French public broadcasters.

In a statement, France 24 said that the decision “taken in the context of this situation aims to protect the integrity of the work of all the Arabic-speaking editorial staff of France 24,  whose editorial content, both on the air and in digital environments, makes it a balanced channel, non-partisan, verifying the facts and cultivating constructive debate thanks to the professionalism of its journalists.”

The broadcaster added: “As in all the languages ​​of France 24, the Arabic-speaking channel is illustrated every day by its commitment to the fight against antisemitism, racism and discrimination.”

Campaign Against Antisemitism reports on news and incidents relating to antisemitism in France and throughout Europe.