News Anchor Slams Netanyahu for Sabbath Broadcast Decision

Boaz Golan, a prominent anchor for the right-leaning Channel 14 news, has launched a sharp public criticism against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the upcoming broadcast of an interview with the premier on Friday night. The interview, conducted with Noya Dori and scheduled to air on Friday night, has drawn unusual ire from Golan, who is typically aligned with Netanyahu's political camp.

Golan's central objection is the decision to allow the interview to be broadcast on the Sabbath eve, even though the conversation was pre-recorded and did not take place during Shabbat itself. He argued that this breaks with a precedent set by all previous prime ministers since the establishment of the state, noting that Netanyahu himself faced a similar situation in 2010.

"Since the establishment of the state, no sitting prime minister has been interviewed on a program broadcast on Sabbath eve (not even a pre-recorded interview)," Golan wrote. "The only one who did this in 2010 was Benjamin Netanyahu, and he later apologized and promised to be careful about it in the future. This week he is doing it again!"

Golan further stated, "He who speaks in the media about 'divine assistance' in an existential war cannot desecrate the Sabbath, the source of blessing for the people of Israel. Shame!" The fact that this criticism comes from within Channel 14, a station generally supportive of Netanyahu, lends it significant weight. Golan connected Netanyahu's public statements about faith with the decision to allow the interview's Sabbath eve broadcast, suggesting that someone who emphasizes divine assistance, especially during an "existential war," should not disregard the sanctity of the Sabbath and the sensitivities of the observant public.

The anchor highlighted that in 2010, Netanyahu reportedly apologized for a similar action and pledged it would not recur, making the current decision a breach of that promise. Golan concluded his strong condemnation with the single word, "Shame!"