Ozzy Osbourne among 200 public figures calling for investigation into BBC Israel bias

The letter claimed the documentary “makes mockery of the Reithian Principle – to inform, educate and entertain – widely understood and recognised as a distillation of the BBC’s mission”. As a result of its airing, “the board and senior management should be considering their positions,” the letter added.

The group accused the BBC of airing “Hamas propaganda” and urged the corporation to “allow for a full independent commission of inquiry to investigate the processes that led to this documentary being produced, and the pervasive anti-Israel bias” it reflected.

David Draiman of Disturbed performs in Chicago, October 10, 2018 (Credit: Jeff Schear/Getty Images for SiriusXM)Getty Images for SiriusXM

Referencing Gary Lineker, who last week lent his name to a letter urging the BBC to reinstate the programme on the iPlayer, the letter went on: “This is a true crisis for the broadcaster, which it is treating as a minor inconvenience whilst its highest paid presenter is allowed to openly deny there is an issue at all.”

The British Jewish community has consistently criticised the BBC’s coverage of Israel since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council are among the communal organisations to accuse the BBC of being “institutionally hostile to Israel.”

Earlier this week, BBC Chair Samir Shah admitted “serious failings” in the development of the documentary, which he told a parliamentary select committee were a “dagger to the heart” of the broadcaster’s reputation.

He also indicated that the topic of Middle East coverage would form the basis of the BBC’s next “thematic review” – an annual report compiled by independent media consultants assessing a specific area of the BBC’s news output.