Israeli TV Anchor Calls for Media Soul-Searching After Election Results

Channel 13 anchor Moria Asraf, a prominent voice in Israeli media known for covering complex political and diplomatic affairs, called for introspection within the Israeli press following the recent election results. Speaking on her show "Moria and Berko" with Eyal Berkovich, Asraf stated that while Prime Minister Netanyahu did not secure the 61 mandates needed to form a government, the "change bloc" had "lost, and big time." She acknowledged a significant discrepancy between pre-election polls and the actual vote, admitting that neither pollsters nor journalists accurately gauged the public's sentiment. "We journalists here in the studio did not feel the spirit of the people correctly," Asraf said, urging a self-examination of how the media presents public opinion. She argued that the media has often presented a more polarized view than reality, particularly on issues like the judicial reform, hostage deals, and the war's outcomes. Asraf emphasized that the election results raise questions about assumptions made on air and that the public is "much less decisive than the tones here in the studio." She concluded by stating that while protesting is a democratic right, the most significant demonstration is at the ballot box. Her remarks drew a response from reality TV personality and social media influencer Einav Buvlil, who posted on Instagram that the media often dictates a narrative contrary to public will, praising Asraf for her realization, stating, "It's never too late to come to your senses and understand."