EXCLUSIVE : The BBC made changes to content and editorial oversight at its BBC Arabic network as internal debate raged about anti-Israel bias.

Deadline understands that BBC News chiefs overhauled BBC Arabic’s online Press Review item — which collates media reporting from the Middle East — and bolstered editorial leadership and accountability at the service.

The changes were made as BBC Arabic came under scrutiny from the BBC board’s Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee (EGSC). The EGSC is comprised of five members, including BBC director general Tim Davie and chair Samir Shah, but also takes soundings from external advisers.

One of these advisers, David Grossman, produced a report in January that reviewed BBC Arabic output and identified “issues,” per EGSC minutes seen by

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