The UK’s National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has strongly criticized Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer for his recent remarks against BBC presenter Mishal Husain, accusing her of inciting “attacks on Jews” in Britain.
Mencer’s allegations came during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, where he claimed that Husain’s reporting had directly contributed to attacks on Jews in the UK. He also accused the veteran journalist of “blindly repeating what terrorist organisations” told her.
The NUJ responded to Mencer’s comments, labeling them as “abusive” and highlighting what they described as the Israeli government’s “contempt for the work of journalists.” The union lauded Husain as a “consummate professional,” condemning Mencer’s behavior as unbecoming of a government official. “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 NUJ stated.
The BBC has also come to Husain’s defense, asserting that she had conducted the interview in a “professional, fair and courteous manner” while asking “legitimate and important questions.”
Husain, who has been a presenter on the Today programme for over a decade, is regarded as a leading candidate for the BBC’s top news presenter position following the resignation of Huw Edwards. During the contentious interview, she questioned Mencer about an Israeli airstrike on a Gaza school compound that killed over 100 Palestinians, many of whom were sheltering from the ongoing conflict. Mencer responded by falsely claiming there were no women and children present at the site and criticized the BBC for allegedly repeating information from “terrorist organisations.”
When Husain brought up allegations from the Israeli rights group B’Tselem about the torture of Palestinian prisoners, Mencer accused her of biased reporting, saying, “I think you just warrant the pro-Palestinian reporter of the year award, and I congratulate you for that.” He further alleged that the BBC’s coverage was responsible for increasing antisemitic attacks in Britain, claiming it made Jews in the UK fearful for their safety.
Mencer, a former director of Labour Friends of Israel, became the Israeli government’s spokesperson after his predecessor, Eylon Levy, left the position following a public disagreement with then-Foreign Secretary David Cameron.
Support for Husain has been widespread on social media, with many praising her professionalism. Bestselling historian William Dalrymple tweeted that Husain “should wear the smears of genocidal Israeli spokespeople as a badge of honour,” adding that she “has done more for the BBC and what is left of its reputation for professionalism than anyone else.”
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