BBC training tells staff not to criticise Zionists

The BBC's new antisemitism training course says people who "have no intention to offend Jewish people" should not "criticise Zionists".

The training, rolled out to BBC staff last week and seen by Middle East Eye, says: "Antisemites frequently use the word 'Zionist' (or worse, 'Zio'), when they are in fact referring to Jews, whether in Israel or elsewhere.

"Those claiming to be 'anti-Zionist, not antisemitic', should do so in the knowledge that many Jewish people consider themselves to be Zionists."

The training adds: "If these individuals mean only to criticise the policies of the government of Israel, and have no intention to offend Jewish people, they should criticise 'the Israeli government', and not 'Zionists'."

The course was made by the BBC Academy in conjunction with the Jewish Staff Network, the Antisemitism Policy Trust and the Community Security Trust (CST).