A BOARD of British Jews have called for the broadcaster James O’Brien to be taken off air following claims he made “highly offensive comments” on his show.
The LBC talk-show host has been accused of “spreading a modern blood libel on national radio” after he read out a message from a listener on his show on Tuesday which claimed Jewish children in the UK are taught to hate Arabs.
The listener's comments came after O’Brien had criticised the mainstream UK media for focusing on Bob Vylan and Kneecap’s comments at the Glastonbury Festival instead of reporting on Israel’s war on Gaza.
In a short clip shared to social media by LBC, O’Brien reads out the listener's message where he comments that he is doing so as he is “fascinated by objectivity”.
O’Brien read the short statement from the listener, Chris, which said: “I do think it’s worth saying that these warped views are not just an Israeli problem.
“My wife was brought up Jewish and at Shabbat school in a leafy Hertfordshire town she was taught that one Jewish life is worth thousands of Arab lives, and that Arabs are cockroaches to be crushed.
“Whilst young children are being taught such hatred and dehumanisation, undoubtedly on both sides.”
He added: “As Chris points out – then they will always be able to justify death and cruelty, and it does indeed start young.
“There is a danger perhaps that we only ever hear one side of the dehumanisation and propaganda processes.”
Following the post on social media where O’Brien reads out the listener's message, a Campaign Against Antisemitism spokesperson described the comments as “a modern blood libel on national radio”.
Meanwhile, the Board of Deputies of British Jews have called for him to be removed by LBC.
In a statement, Andrew Gilbert, vice president of the board, said that reading out the message was “demonising” the British Jewish community during a time antisemitism is at “terrifyingly high levels” in the UK.
He wrote: “We are urgently seeking a meeting with senior executives following the completely unacceptable and highly offensive comments made by James O'Brien on his LBC show today.
“Broadcasting such a transparent falsehood and demonising the British Jewish community, at a time when antisemitism in this country is at terrifyingly high levels, must have clear consequences.
“LBC should apologise, and take Mr O'Brien off the air.”
On the same show, O’Brien spoke with Palestinian American caller Nadir who said that people either sympathise with what is going on in Gaza, or “you’re cold and dead inside”.
The broadcaster also spoke about how 28 countries have now come together to condemn the suffering Palestinians are enduring in [[Gaza]] and that there was “never any international community capable of stopping” Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
He added that if Israel hasn't already accused all 28 countries of being anti-Semitic yet, then “set your clock,” as Netanyahu “will do soon”.
LBC has been approached for comment.
