Israeli Journalist Apologizes for Staying at Qatari Lobbyist's Home
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Channel 13 News journalist Suleiman Maswadeh apologized for staying in a Washington D.C. apartment owned by Qatari lobbyist the Qatari lobbyist for two weeks. Maswadeh admitted the stay was a mistake that could raise doubts about his professional independence, though he denied it affected his reporting. The apology came after a "Haaretz" investigation revealed the arrangement, linking the Qatari lobbyist to Qatari interests and the "Qatargate" scandal. Channel 13 stated they support Maswadeh's work despite the judgment error.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Channel 13 journalist Suleiman Maswadeh apologized for staying at a Qatari lobbyist's apartment.
- Maswadeh admitted the two-week stay in Washington D.C. was a mistake.
- He denied his personal friendship with lobbyist the Qatari lobbyist affected his reporting.
- The apology followed a "Haaretz" investigation into the arrangement.
- The Qatari lobbyist is linked to promoting Qatar's interests and the "Qatargate" scandal.
Suleiman Maswadeh, a journalist for Channel 13 News, issued a public apology on Wednesday for accepting accommodation for two weeks in a Washington D.C. apartment owned by the Qatari lobbyist, a lobbyist for Qatar. Maswadeh admitted he made a mistake by accepting the stay during his initial settling-in period in the city, but stressed that his personal relationship with the Qatari lobbyist never influenced his professional work.
"I made a mistake. I want to apologize to the viewers and to my colleagues at the newsroom," Maswadeh stated. He explained that the Qatari lobbyist is a personal friend of many years and that he stayed in the Qatari lobbyist's vacant apartment for about two weeks while he was organizing his initial stay in Washington.
Maswadeh acknowledged in hindsight that the arrangement was an error, even though he maintained it did not affect his journalistic coverage. "As a journalist, my responsibility is not only to maintain professional independence but also to avoid situations that could raise doubts about it. In this case, I did not act as expected, and for that, I regret and apologize," he said.
The apology follows an investigation by the "Haaretz" newspaper, which reported that Maswadeh stayed at the Qatari lobbyist's property in Virginia and even broadcast from the house's yard. The Qatari lobbyist has been involved in promoting Qatar's interests and has been linked to the "Qatargate" scandal. Maswadeh himself had previously testified to the police as part of that investigation.
Channel 13 News responded to the report by stating that Maswadeh erred in his judgment but affirmed their support for his professional work. Maswadeh also claimed he paid for the stay and that it was a temporary arrangement with a long-time friend. He concluded his apology by reaffirming his commitment to his journalistic integrity and the pursuit of truth.
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