Community leaders meet Sky News to discuss reporting of Israel violence

Jewish community leaders discussed the reporting of Palestinian attacks on Israelis with the Sky News team. 

Members of the Board of Deputies met with the broadcasters to discuss how the recent wave of terror has been reported.

Following the meeting, Gillian Merron, Chief Executive of the Board said: “We raised the way in which headlines in the UK media have frequently minimised the violence against Israelis and expressed the community’s deep concern that the context of anti-Jewish incitement was often missing from reports.”

Gillian Merron was accompanied by  Steven Jaffe, the Board’s engagement with Israel consultant, who both meet senior Sky journalists with expertise in the Middle East. Merron said: “We very much welcome the offer of on-going contact with Sky News in the interests of ensuring what we all want to see, impartial, well informed and balanced coverage.”

John Ryley, head of News at Sky News said: “I believe that Sky’s reporting has striven to be the best possible in a complex and fast moving situation. I acknowledge the need to ensure that our coverage provides the full context at all times.’

At least 14 Israelis and 80 Palestinians have been killed in the recent wave of violence, with many of the Palestinians killed involved in attacks on Israelis, according to Israel.