Billionaire Assaf Rappaport Discusses Media Vision, Political Pressure, and Personal Life

Billionaire Assaf Rappaport, founder of Wiz and a dominant figure behind Israel's Channel 13, offered rare insights into his worldview in an interview with Kan 11's 'Meeting with Roni Kuban.' Rappaport acknowledged his significant wealth following the sale of Wiz to Google, stating it frees him from daily financial concerns. He outlined his vision for Channel 13 as a 'patriotic, democratic, independent organization,' distinct from left-wing or right-wing affiliations. However, he accused the government of attempting to force the channel's closure and suggested he would face different treatment if he operated a rival channel like Channel 14.

Despite business and ideological rivalries, Rappaport praised Channel 14 for introducing a 'new and different voice' and acknowledged its success. He singled out Channel 14 anchor Yinon Magal as a 'captivating talent,' despite disagreeing with him on all issues. Rappaport dismissed concerns that the program 'The Patriots' is dangerous, stating he doesn't believe those words apply. He criticized media 'mouthpieces' and pledged structural separation and non-interference in Channel 13's content, emphasizing the importance of professional journalism.

Rappaport also addressed rumors about the reality show 'Game of Chefs,' denying he fired judge Moshik Roth or planned to replace him with Yonatan Roshfeld, calling the speculation amusing as he has no involvement in the show. He also touched upon his personal life, discussing a complex childhood with an absent father and a strong, single mother. He cited Amos Oz's quote about 'tikkun olam' (world repair) as his motivation for his media and social endeavors.

Additionally, Rappaport spoke about his experiences as a gay man in the tech industry, particularly in cybersecurity, noting it's a male-dominated field and that while it's difficult to be gay, it's even harder to be a woman in that sector.