Poll: UK Jews believe BBC is biased against Israel

As BBC prepares to welcome new Jewish director of current affairs, poll finds many believe network is not supportive of Israel.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
James Harding (photo credit: DATE IMPORTED: December 12, 2012 Times newspaper e)
James Harding
(photo credit: DATE IMPORTED: December 12, 2012 Times newspaper e)
A poll released this week by Jewish News One, an independent non-profit international Jewish news network, says that four out of five UK Jews believe the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is biased against the State of Israel.
Conducted by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, the statistics were released just prior to the BBC welcoming its new director of current affairs James Harding, son of a German-Jewish refugee.
"Jews in the UK are likely to be hopeful that the broadcaster is more friendly to Israel in its news coverage," the report said.
Harding, who was previously editor of the Times of London, was the youngest journalist ever chosen for the position when he was appointed in 2007 at the age of 38.
While only 22% of the British Jewish community read The Guardian, according to the poll results, 46% follow the Times. The poll also concluded that 88% of Jews continue to follow the BBC, regardless of its said bias.
"Even though most Jews believe the BBC doesn't support Israel," the report said, "they still watch it anyway."