“The BBC accepted its mistake and subsequently changed it. Of course, I am not accusing BBC journalists of antisemitism but this example demonstrates the drip-drip effect of unqualified, un-contextualised singling out of Israel for criticism.
“If the BBC can get this wrong, it is little wonder that Israel finds it so hard to put aside the idea that some critics are motivated by something more sinister than political commentary.”
Lord Grade was born to a Jewish father, theatrical agent Leslie Grade, and his uncles were renowned theatre impresarios Lew Grade and Bernard Delfont.
Lord Grade said some critics of Israel “leave themselves open” to accusations of antisemitism by singly out the country for criticism, without offering context.
Baroness Sheehan also spoke, calling on the British government to pressure Israel to “stop changing the map of the Occupied Territories and progress a two-state solution”, while Lord Palmer of Childs Hill, a member of the Liberal Democrat Friends of Israel, drew attention to the expulsion of Jews from north Africa and the Middle East since 1948.
