A BBC Arabic journalist who told his bosses the terms “ethnic cleansing” and “settler-colonialism” should be used when covering Israel has been allowed to report on the war in Lebanon.
Rami Ruyahem has appeared repeatedly in live broadcasts from Beirut in recent weeks.
His appearances have prompted renewed scrutiny of an internal email he circulated at the BBC shortly after the October 7 massacre.
In the message sent to director general Tim Davie and staff in bureaus around the world, Ruhayem urged colleagues to adopt language such as “settler-colonialism” and “apartheid” when describing Israel’s actions.
The email, reported in October 2023 by the JC, claimed the broadcaster may be “reinforcing Israeli propaganda meant to dehumanise the Palestinians” as Israel commits “genocide”.
“Words like ‘massacre’, ‘slaughter’ and ‘atrocities’ are being used – prominently – in reference to actions by Hamas, but hardly, if at all, in reference to actions by Israel,” Ruhayem wrote.
“The power of emotive coverage and repetition is well understood. The selective application of emotive repetition is sure to have an impact on audiences, and it is exactly the kind of impact Israeli propagandists are aiming for as they dehumanise Palestinians and set the stage for the mass murder they have pledged – and begun – to carry out.”
He suggested the BBC risked becoming complicit in “war propaganda” and “dehumanisation” and said what he described as a “systemic bias in favour of Israel” had become “a question of complicity”.
He urged the corporation to use terms including “apartheid”, “ethnic cleansing” and “settler-colonialism” in its reporting, warning of a “flood of incitement” against Palestinians.
In a later email sent to Davie and others in early 2024, Ruhayem questioned the Israel government’s account of the Hamas massacre months earlier. He wrote: “The most pressing question is this: why does the BBC seem to have steered away from the growing body of evidence that casts doubt on the official Israeli version of the events of October 7?”
The continued use of Ruhayem by BBC Arabic has prompted criticism, amid claims that it risks bias by shaping the broadcaster’s reporting on the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
The media watchdog Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis (Camera) said that the view that Israel’s Jewish population consists of settlers or colonisers could lead to the “whitewashing” of militant groups.
A spokesperson said: “Contrary to claims made by Mr Ruhayem in internal BBC correspondence from October 2023 and April 2024, there is no ‘growing body of evidence’ that casts doubt on what happened to Israeli communities on October 7, 2023.
"This is the language of conspiracism, not journalism. Nor is the term ‘settler-colonialism’ appropriate or necessary when covering present-day Jewish communities inside Israel, as he also claims.
“Rather, both assertions reflect a widespread world view that regards Israel’s Jews as liars, settlers or colonisers – that is, as people who are never truly civilians and therefore legitimate targets.
"The same outlook also leads its adherents to whitewash combatants in Gaza and Lebanon as innocent bystanders.
“Someone who demonstrates so little ability to distinguish between civilian and legitimate military targets cannot be considered a reliable source when reporting on civilian casualties in Lebanon either. BBC Arabic should therefore not rely on Mr Ruhayem in such a capacity.”
A BBC spokesman told the JC: “We responded to queries around this over two years ago, and we don’t comment on individual HR matters. Where we find breaches of our editorial or social media guidance, we take the appropriate action.”
Ruhayem was approached for comment.
To get more news, click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.