Responding to DW accusations… Roya TV. calls for distinguishing between ‘Israel’ criticism and antisemitism

Amman (QNN)- Following accusations of antisemitism by Deutsche Welle (DW), Jordan’s Roya Media Group decried the campaign, launched by German media against it and called for distinguishing between criticism of ‘Israel’ and antisemitism.

“The group calls upon all media organizations to differentiate in clear terms the difference between the criticism of illegal, inhumane or racist actions by Israel as a state and antisemitism, which is racism against Jews”, a statement by the CEO of the Jordanian group stated.

Roya’s CEO, Fares Sayegh, added that it has been having a successful professional relationship with DW since 2011.

“Fighting racism in all of its forms, including anti-Semitism, is a core value that we cherish, and therefore we strongly condemn the false accusations that have sprung and which led to DW issuing its statement”, he added.

The German state-owned DW international broadcaster had announced earlier on Sunday that it has suspended its cooperation with Roya group, citing accusations that the Jordanian broadcaster spreads antisemitic content and caricatures on its social media accounts.

DW has long been criticized for its biased reporting on Israeli violations against Palestinians. Media outlets in Germany have adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which equates criticism of ‘Israel’ or its behaviour to antisemitism.

Last May, during Israel’s deadly aggression on the Gaza Strip, DW distributed an internal memo to its journalists, forbidding them to make, or let any guest make any connection between the state of ‘Israel’ and colonialism.

In the reporting guide sent to the staff, DW’s editorial board banned its reporters and editors from covering Israeli crimes of “apartheid” and persecution of Palestinians.

The two-page reporting guide, which was leaked and shared on social media, underlined that the Holocaust’s legacy and Germany’s special responsibility towards ‘Israel’ remain cornerstones of the country’s constitution and its foreign policy.