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Calls for LBC's James O'Brien to be 'taken off air'

Calls for LBC's James O'Brien to be 'taken off air'

The National3 days ago
The listener's comments came after O'Brien had criticised the mainstream UK media for focusing on Bob Vylan and Kneecap's comments at the Glastonbury Festival instead of reporting on Israel's war on Gaza.
In a short clip shared to social media by LBC, O'Brien reads out the listener's message where he comments that he is doing so as he is 'fascinated by objectivity'.
READ MORE: Doing the right thing for Gaza would gain the SNP more support
O'Brien read the short statement from the listener Chris which said: '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'
He added: '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.'
Following the post on social media where O'Brien reads out the listener's message, a Campaign Against Antisemitism spokesperson described the comments as 'a modern blood libel on national radio',
Meanwhile, the Board of Deputies of British Jews have called for him to be removed by LBC.
In a statement, Andrew Gilbert, vice president of the board, said that reading out the message was 'demonising' the British Jewish community during a time antisemitism is at 'terrifyingly high levels' in the UK.
He wrote: '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.'
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