I am writing to express my sheer disbelief at the ongoing presence of Raffi Berg as the BBC Middle East editor. How can the BBC claim to be impartial and unbiased in relation to events in Gaza when the very person who edits the news has unprecedentedly close links to the Netanyahu government in Israel that go back years?

At the launch of his book “Red Sea Spies: The True Story of Mossad’s Fake Diving Resort,” in February 2021 he makes no effort to conceal his close links with senior Israeli officials. Indeed he is seen posing at his book launch in February 2021 with Mark Regev, Senior Advisor for Foreign Affairs and International Communications as well as Ohed Zemet director of the department for Jordan, Syria and Lebanon affairs in the Netanyahu government. The photo is accompanied by the caption – in Raffi Berg’s own words on Twitter – “Big honour for me on a very special night”.

In the book, Berg glorifies Mossad and boasts of the extensive cooperation from them, including “over 100 hours of interviews”. Berg said he collaborated on the project with “Dani,” a former senior Mossad commander he described as a “legend” who later became “a very close friend.” Berg even had the audacity to post an image of Benjamin Netanyahu taking a phone call at his desk where his book was on display: “I know I’ve got one of #Israel PM @netanyahu’s books on mine—but wow!

Are we seriously expected to believe that if the BBC Middle East Editor had a written s book glorifying Palestinian militant activity and cooing over recognition from Palestinian government that they would be allowed to stay in their job?

I look forward to hearing what action you intend to take with regards to Raffi Berg employment at the BBC.