Ofira Assaig Confronts Haim Levinson a Year After His Departure

Journalist Haim Levinson returned to "Ofira Ohana Seri" for his first interview with former co-host Ofira Assaig, a year after he left their joint program "Ofira and Levinson" on Keshet 12. Levinson had resigned from the show following a scandal where he was fired from the newspaper Haaretz for failing to disclose financial ties to a suspect in the "Qatargate" affair, Israel Einhorn. Levinson claimed he left the show to maintain viewer trust.

During the interview, Assaig expressed her hurt over his departure, telling Levinson, "Honestly, you betrayed me. I took the separation from you harder than the separation from [Eyal] Berkovich." Levinson responded that "betrayal is a harsh word," noting their year-and-a-half partnership compared to Assaig's 18 years with Berkovich.

The controversy began when Levinson announced his departure from Haaretz, but it was later revealed he was fired after it emerged he had received approximately 200,000 shekels from a company owned by Einhorn in 2019. Levinson apologized for what he called a "mistake" and criticized the newspaper's management. Amidst the public outcry, he chose to leave the television program as well.

Assaig, who was unaware of Levinson's connections to Einhorn at the time, bid him farewell live on air and hosted the show alone for several months afterward.