Did Al Jazeera infiltrate a UK Labour forum via misled Israeli help?
The story behind Al Jazeera's confidential documentary series, "The Lobby."
By JPOST.COM STAFFUpdated: JANUARY 15, 2017 16:51Flags are seen above a souvenir kiosk near Big Ben clock at the Houses of Parliament in central London(photo credit: REUTERS)
An undercover reporter, going by the alias of Robin Harrow, infiltrated a British Labour Party conference by using a junior Israeli embassy official as a reference, the Jewish Chronicle reported over the weekend.The undercover journalist reportedly used a his false identity to gain a Labour Party membership. He then went on to register for the Liverpool conference with the false identity alongside a reference from Shai Masot, a political officer at the London embassy. Whether or not the reference was also forged was not made clear.The reference aided the journalist to to bypass any additional security checks before the conference.Israel apologises over embassy worker"s vow to "take down" UK ministerLater Masot, the same embassy official that reportedly aided the undercover journalist in gaining access to the conference, spurred controversy after a recording emerged of him discussing his desire to "take down" anti-Israel officials in Britain.Masot was secretly recorded in October by Al Jazeera speaking in a clearly undiplomatic manner about a number of British MPs. His remarks also regarded Foreign Office Minister Sir Alan Duncan and Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, whom he called "an idiot."Regarding Duncan, however, Masot said he was "doing [sic] a lot of problems," while his dinner partner said the comments "sounded like a conspiracy."Masot has since stepped down from his position.Masot's comments were part of a four part series by Qatari owned media conglomerate Al Jazeera, titled "The Lobby." All documentaries featured the work of an undercover reporter infiltrating different groups that were classified as pro-Israeli.The reporter behind the investigation may face a legal complaint following the second installment of the documentary, the Chronicle reported last week. The episode featured security footage of the director of the Jewish Labour Movement Ella Rose.