News Channel 13 Denies Settlement with Employee Over Discrimination Lawsuit

Channel 13 has refuted claims made by Netali Shem Tov, a member of the Am Ech Israel party, regarding a lawsuit she filed against the network. Shem Tov had alleged severe workplace harassment and unfair dismissal due to her political views.

Am Ech Israel had issued a statement announcing a settlement where News 13 would compensate Shem Tov for alleged mistreatment and ideological discrimination. The party's statement claimed the sides reached a compromise agreement, including a confidential monetary payment to Shem Tov.

However, News 13 strongly contested this narrative, stating that the court clarified Shem Tov's claims lacked basis and recommended she settle for only a portion of her employment contract's value. The network asserted that the court rejected her NIS 3.5 million lawsuit, specifically dismissing her allegations of harassment, discrimination based on political agenda, wrongful termination, reputational damage, emotional distress, and full contract compensation.

News 13 explained that Shem Tov herself requested the settlement terms remain confidential, especially after attempting to leverage her dismissal for political gain without success. The network stated that her public announcement about the settlement constitutes a breach of the agreement. Consequently, News 13 announced its intention to cancel the settlement, noting that Shem Tov received less than her contract value and less than a fifth of her claimed amount.

Sources within Channel 13 added that the settlement included clauses for confidentiality and protecting Shem Tov's reputation. They emphasized that her immediate, false public statement violated these terms, leading to the cancellation of the agreement.