Jonny Gould’s Jewish State

69: The Chanukah Bus Story: BBC standoff with Britain’s Jewish community

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Episode notes

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A crowd of around 250 gathered to hear Gideon Falter of the Campaign Against Antisemitism demand of the BBC, “Where is the proof? Tell the truth”.

This is about a bus load of Jewish people heading down London’s Oxford Street in high spirits, dancing and singing celebrating Chanukah - only to be attacked by an aggressive group of men shouting anti-Zionist jibes, banging their shoes against the bus windows and panels, performing Nazi sieg heil salutes and then chasing the bus down the road.

But the BBC covered the incident claiming they’d heard conclusive proof of an anti-Muslim slur which had come from inside the bus.

All this from a video recorded by someone in the vehicle. BBC London TV went further and broadcast speculation that the slur might’ve even triggered the group of men into attacking the bus in the first place.

Joining Gideon on the stage was Fiyaz Mughal OBE of Muslims Against Antisemitism who reminded the crowd that bias against minorities also extends to stereotypes about Muslims too.

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