A BBC Middle East editor is pursuing a defamation lawsuit against journalist Owen Jones over an article alleging the insertion of “systematic Israeli propaganda” into the network’s news coverage. Raffi Berg, the BBC’s Middle East editor, initiated legal proceedings last November following the publication of Jones’s article in December 2024 on Drop Site News.
The UK High Court heard arguments on Friday, with Berg asserting that the article “singled [him] out” and damaged his “journalistic integrity,” leading to “an onslaught of hatred, intimidation and threats.” He is seeking damages and a retraction of the article, according to court filings.
Jones’s article, titled ‘The BBC’s Civil War Over Gaza,’ cited multiple anonymous current and former BBC employees who claimed Berg “micromanages” stories related to Israel, consistently softening critical reporting. One anonymous BBC journalist was quoted as saying, “Many of us have raised concerns that Raffi has the power to reframe every story, and we are ignored.” The article alleged Berg plays a key role in a broader BBC culture of pro-Israel bias.
Berg’s legal team argued the article constituted a direct attack on his professional reputation. Jones’s attorney countered that the piece was “firmly focused on the BBC’s Gaza coverage for which Berg is responsible,” and did not represent a broader indictment of his journalistic ethics. Jones has vowed to defend his reporting vigorously.
The BBC has publicly supported Berg, with a spokesperson stating that Jones’s allegations “fundamentally misdescribe this person’s role, and misunderstand the way the BBC works.”
The case comes after Berg publicly acknowledged his admiration for the state of Israel and, in 2020, stated he had been “accepted into a circle of trust among the people who belonged to, [and] some of who still function for” the Israeli intelligence service Mossad. He is also the author of a 2020 book, ‘Red Sea Spies: The True Story of Mossad’s Fake Diving Resort.’
According to reports from The Times of Israel, Berg received death threats following the publication of Jones’s article. The New Arab reported that the lawsuit was filed after Jones refused to remove the article. Middle East Eye and Middle East Monitor have both reported on Berg’s expressed admiration for Mossad, a detail central to the claims of bias.
The court has not yet set a date for a full hearing in the case.
