McMafia accused of 'gratuitous slurs' over portrayal of Jewish characters
The BBC's latest hit thriller has been accused of making "gratuitous slurs" against Israeli businessmen by Jewish groups.
UK Lawyers for Israel have released a statement on their Facebook page that outlines two problems it finds with McMafia, a new series about Russian-Israeli gangsters on BBC One.
The group takes umbrage with the portrayal of Semiyon Kleiman, an Israeli businessman and politician of ill-repute who is played by US actor David Strathairn, claiming that he is the target of "gratuitous slurs" that don't appear in the show's source material, a book written by journalist Misha Glenny. In the opening episode, Kleiman made plans to build a luxurious floating casino off the coast of Eilat.
UK Lawyers for Israel also complain that the motto of Israeli intelligence unit Mossad has been changed by the writers of the programme. The group write: "The mini-series distorts the motto of Mossad which was quoted in the drama, as 'By deception we will do war'.
"The actual motto comes from Proverbs, 24.6 and says 'For by wise guidance you can wage your war'.
"The use of the word 'deception' in substitute for the words 'wise guidance' attacks the integrity of Mossad and insinuates that Israel officially sanctions deception in its intelligence activities."
Strathairn previously told the BBC that he didn't know much about Russian-Israeli organised crime until he took on the role, saying that "Misha’s book became the source and it was the oracle for me. Nor did I know much about the Russian/Jewish/Israeli culture but the production provided all of us with so much tangible palpable information."
UK Lawyers for Israel also publicised the BBC complaints website on their Facebook page.
A spokesperson for Ofcom said the broadcasting watchdog has not received any complaints about anti-semitism in McMafia. The BBC declined to comment or share their own complaint numbers.
