The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned an Israeli government spokesman for a BBC interview during which he accused presenter Mishal Husain of warranting being made “pro-Palestinian reporter of the year.”
The at-times almost unlistenable interview this morning was conducted between Today host Husain and David Mencer, who the NUJ said behaved in an “abusive” manner.
Mencer was speaking with Husain following an air strike on a school building in Gaza that was sheltering displaced people, which killed more than 70, according to the director of a nearby hospital. Kamala Harris was amongst those condemning the killings yesterday.
Mencer was forthright with his attitude that the BBC is biased and at times Husain struggled to get a word in edgeways.
The NUJ accused him of double standards. “The hypocrisy of condemning news reports coming from Gaza, including the latest figures of civilians killed, as speculation and baseless propaganda, whilst refusing to let the world’s media in to report was laid bare in this morning’s interview with David Mencer,” the union said. “Proclaiming that it’s right to smear the BBC and making ridiculous accusations against his interviewer and other journalists was desperate stuff. Abusing and hectoring journalists is always a bad look, particularly so when it is an official response from a government that seeks to make much of its democratic credentials. The contempt for the work of journalists was laid bare.”
The union went on to call Husain a “consummate professional.” She has fronted many such interviews since October 7 during a time that the BBC has struggled to keep its coverage clear of criticism from both sides.
Mencer is an Israeli government spokesman who frequently appears in the international press. He replaced Eylon Levy, who was suspended several months back following a row with then-UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron.
The post “The Contempt For The Work Of Journalists Was Laid Bare”: NUJ Slams Israeli Government Spokesman For “Abusive” & Hypocritical Interview With BBC’s Mishal Husain appeared first on Deadline.
