Several Columnists Leave the Jewish Chronicle in Protest

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Facts

  • Four columnists from the UK-based Jewish Chronicle (JC), Jonathan Freedland, Hadley Freeman, David Aaronovitch, and David Baddiel, are resigning from the paper over what they describe as the newspaper's biased reporting in favor of Israel.[1]
  • In his resignation letter posted on X, Freedland said that while his 'attachment to the JC runs very deep' and that he and his father have contributed to it for a combined 'nearly 75 years,' he alleged the paper has become 'partisan' and 'ideological' rather than 'journalistic.'[2]
  • Also on X, Freeman wrote, 'I'm immensely grateful for all the support I've had from the editors during my time there,' but 'recent events have made it impossible for me to stay.' Replying to Freeman, Aaronovitch wrote, 'I'm out too,' with a spokesman for Baddiel saying the same for him.[3][4][1]
  • The resignations were reportedly in response to the publication of nine articles by freelance journalist Elon Perry, including contentious claims that Hamas was planning to smuggle Israeli hostages to Iran. The Israel Defense Forces have said they have no knowledge of such plans.[5][6][7]
  • After investigating the articles by Perry, a former Israeli soldier, the JC announced that it had 'removed his stories' and 'ended any association with [him].' Perry claimed the publication had 'made a huge mistake,' adding that he was unable to disclose his sources.[8]
  • Following additional probes, the publication also said it was 'not satisfied' with some of Perry's claims about his record, which, according to his biography, include time as a professor, journalist, and 'commando in the Israeli army.' It didn't indicate which claims it was referring to.[9][10]

Sources: [1]The Hill, [2]X (a), [3]X (b), [4]X (c), [5]TheWrap, [6]Jerusalem Post, [7]Timesofisrael, [8]Guardian, [9]ISRAEL HAYOM and [10]BBC News.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by +972 Magazine. The fabrications published by the Jewish Chronicle demonstrate the lengths some are willing to go to assist Benjamin Netanyahu and his extremist government. Such influence operations are caustic to both Israeli and Jewish life. Indeed, the Jewish Chronicle has become increasingly sensational in recent years under editor Jake Wallis Simons, making this incident unfortunately unsurprising.
  • Narrative B, as provided by X. The Jewish Chronicle has taken full accountability for the errors that led to the publication of false information. Stronger mechanisms to prevent incidents like this one from occurring have been put in place, and hopefully, those who left will eventually return.