TV show u-turn after tweeting boycott poll

THE TV show Good Morning Britain sparked fury last week when it posted a Twitter poll asking followers whether they thought Britain should boycott this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Israel.

In the survey, GMB asked: “There are calls for Britain to boycott this year’s Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, over Israel’s human rights record. Do you agree? #100DaysToEurovision”.

The show deleted the poll a day after tweeting it following a wave of criticism.

Talent agent Jonathan Shalit told the JC he rang GMB editor Neil Thompson who “immediately responded very positively, totally understanding the negative and bias inferences of such a question.

“He explained GMB remain huge supporters of Eurovision, which they will be covering as usual from Tel Aviv and sending a reporter to do so,” Mr Shalit said.

“I am delighted and pleased with the responsible response.”

Responding to the poll before it had been deleted, David Collier, a researcher who documents Jew-hate, wrote: “Disgraceful. Currently, in antisemitic groups across the web, a ‘call to action’ has gone out on this. Twitter handles, faceless, anonymous, get to legitimise their hate by voting ‘yes’ ... How stupid can you be?”

After it was deleted, he wrote: “Will media outlets please get the message. BDS isn’t about Palestinian rights nor settlements. It is a call to destroy Israel.”

Pro-BDS protesters staged a demonstration on Friday at MediaCitySalford in Manchester, where the BBC broadcast the live show Eurovision Song Contest: You Decide featuring last year’s Israeli winner, Netta Barzilai.

Directing their response to the boycott survey at GMB host Piers Morgan, Sussex Friends of Israel wrote: “When’s the poll on Qatar hosting the World Cup - or are you just going with the one about the world’s only Jewish state?”

Actress Tracy-Ann Oberman wrote: “Love you guys dearly but why the hell would you legitimise this nonsense?”

Twenty-four hours after the GMB poll was posted, 53 per cent of the 46,000 respondents had voted “no” to the boycott; with 47 per cent in favour.