The pro-Israel Jewish Chronicle is embroiled in scandal after four of its columnists quit following the publication of what are widely believed to be fabricated stories.
The Zionist newspaper, which has been at the forefront of defending Israel as it commits genocide in Gaza, has been forced to retract dozens of misleading stories over the past few years.
And in the past few days it has deleted nine articles by writer Elon Perry because of doubts over their accuracy and concerns he had misrepresented his CV.
Perry’s articles purported to describe Israeli operations and intelligence on Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. Last week Israeli media described his articles as “fabrications” and suggested they had been placed in the European media to support Benjamin’s Netanyahu’s negotiating position over Gaza.
The JC also said that it was not satisfied by some of Perry’s claims.
“The Jewish Chronicle has concluded a thorough investigation into freelance journalist Elon Perry, which commenced after allegations were made about aspects of his record. While we understand he did serve in the Israel Defense Forces, we were not satisfied with some of his claims,” it said.
“We have therefore removed his stories from our website and ended any association with Mr Perry.
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“The Jewish Chronicle maintains the highest journalistic standards in a highly contested information landscape and we deeply regret the chain of events that led to this point. We apologise to our loyal readers and have reviewed our internal processes so that this will not be repeated.”
This prompted four of the paper’s best-known columnists – David Baddiel, Jonathan Freedland, David Aaronovitch and Hadley Freeman – to resign in protest over the scandal.
In a letter to the editor, Jake Wallis Simons, posted on X, Freedland said he was quitting the paper to which he had contributed for 26 years.
Freedland wrote: “The latest scandal brings great disgrace on the paper – publishing fabricated stories and showing only the thinnest form of contrition – but it is only the latest. Too often, the JC [Jewish Chronicle] reads like a partisan, ideological instrument, its judgements political rather than journalistic.”
He added: “Of course, all newspapers make mistakes and run articles that writers on the paper dislike. The problem in this case is that there can be no real accountability because the JC is owned by a person or people who refuse to reveal themselves. As you know, I and others have long urged transparency, making that case to you privately – but nothing has happened.”
Freedland said he hoped to return to working for the paper but only when it “returns to its best traditions.”
Aaronovitch reposted Freedland’s comments, saying: “I have done the same.” Baddiel retweeted Freedland’s post. The writer and comedian’s spokesperson said: “David has no plans to write any more columns for the paper but there is no further comment at this stage.”
Freeman said in a separate post marking her departure that recent events at the Jewish Chronicle had “made it impossible for me to stay.”
The Jewish Chronicle has been criticised for a string of misleading stories and Islamophobic comments, including by its editor Jake Wallis Simons, as outlined by Muslim commentator Miqdaad Versi here.
During Jeremy Corbyn’s tenure as Labour Party leader he was regularly accused of antisemitism by the Jewish Chronicle, which Corbyn’s supporters describe as a smear.
Aside from Corbyn, the JC also took aim at many other Muslim activists labelling them antisemitic.
There have also been questions over the secretive ownership of the JC, with the Guardian’s former editor Alan Rusbridger suggesting in an article in Prospect magazine this year that it was ultimately backed by a billionaire American, who has denied the claim.
