James O’Brien sparks fury after reading out antisemitic ‘blood libel’ about Jewish children live on air

The presenter James O’Brien has been condemned for spreading “a modern blood libel on national radio” after reading out a message from a listener to his show claiming that Jewish children in the UK are taught that Arabs are subhuman.

At around the one hour fifty mark during his show – three hours focused almost entirely on Israel’s actions in Gaza which included claims from O’Brien that his “media colleagues” had been far too focused on a few words said on a stage at Glastonbury than on the situation in Gaza – the LBC radio host read out a comment from a listener:

“I’m fascinated by objectivity, which is why I’m going to read out this from Chris, because you do find yourself wondering how people can be looking at the same world you’re looking at and arriving at such completely different conclusions – the polling we looked at in Ha’aretz, displaying support not just for ethnic cleansing, but also for genocide, on levels that many of us would find terrifying.

“And of course it’s not confined, as Chris writes from Oxford – ‘I’m loving the show’ – thank you, Chris – ‘and the high quality of callers today, but 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’ – 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’.”

A shortened version of this excerpt of O’Brien’s show was subsequently shared online by LBC in video form, with the tagline “’At Shabbat school, my wife was taught that one Jewish life is worth a thousand Arab lives’. Listener Chris outlines to James O’Brien the ‘danger’ of ‘propaganda processes’ spreading.” The video was hurriedly deleted by LBC after it sparked furious backlash from British Jews

While there is certainly a concept of “Sunday school”, or cheder, for Jewish children, there is no such thing as ‘Shabbat school’.

A Campaign Against Antisemitism spokesperson described the comments as “a modern blood libel on national radio, amplified by a host who likely wouldn’t think twice about cutting off the caller were he promoting such grotesque falsehoods about another minority. No such generosity for the Jews.”

The organisation further described the comments from O’Brien as “not only a baseless fiction and totally repugnant, but to broadcast it is unbelievably reckless. It is practically an invitation to disaffected people to target Jews in the UK – why not, if they are a ‘side’ in this conflict? It is deplorable the depths that some talkshow hosts will sink to inflame their listeners and drive up ratings. The consequences are borne by British Jews.”

A CST spokesperson said: “The accusation that this is taught in Jewish schools is absolutely disgusting. It is a vile new low for James O’Brien and his LBC broadcaster.”

A Jewish Leadership Council spokesperson said: “For James O’Brien to uncritically read out this outrageous claim as the truth is irresponsible and dangerous journalism.

“At a time of heightened antisemitism when synagogues and Jewish schools require increased security, the threat created by such unsubstantiated claims is real. LBC must urgently investigate and explain how this was allowed to be read out by their presenter.”

A Board of Deputies spokesperson said: “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.”

LBC and Ofcom have been contacted for comment.