MK Moshe Abutbul Demands Hearing for Broadcaster Roni Koven Over Controversial On-Air Remark

MK Moshe Abutbul from the Shas party has called on Golan Yokpaz, CEO of the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, to hold a disciplinary hearing for broadcaster Roni Koven following a controversial statement made during a live broadcast on Kan Reshet Bet. Koven said, "Bring in some Haredi to beat up together," a remark for which he apologized on air. Abutbul described the comment as crossing a red line and unacceptable under the guise of free speech, warning it could be interpreted as incitement to violence against an entire community.

In his letter to Yokpaz, Abutbul emphasized that such statements are especially serious given they target the Haredi population, which numbers over a million in Israel. He criticized the public broadcaster, funded by taxpayers, for failing to condemn such incitement and called for a formal apology, a public clarification across all media platforms, and systemic measures to prevent recurrence. Abutbul also suggested that if a similar statement had targeted any other group, it would have sparked widespread public and media outrage.

Yokpaz responded promptly, confirming receipt of the letter and forwarding the matter to the news division and Dr. Uri Paz, the corporation's public complaints commissioner, who is responsible for handling the case. Yokpaz assured that the corporation would respond swiftly. Abutbul expressed appreciation for the quick reaction and stressed the importance of a thorough professional and legal review, underscoring that this is not just a statement but a call for violence against a large segment of Israeli society.