Channel 13 Owner Assaf Rappaport Criticized for 'Cowardly Silence' on Anchor's Remarks
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Channel 13 owner Assaf Rappaport is under fire from critics for his response to a controversy involving anchor Lucy Aharish and commentator Eyal Berkovich. Berkovich allegedly made a derogatory remark to Aharish after she called a colleague's statement racist. Aharish was deeply affected and took time off, returning without an apology from Berkovich. Critics, including Haaretz's Rogell Alpher and Channel 12's Barak Ravid, have accused Rappaport of "cowardly silence" and "normalizing racism."
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Channel 13 owner Assaf Rappaport faces criticism for his handling of a dispute involving anchor Lucy Aharish.
- Commentator Eyal Berkovich allegedly told Aharish to "Calm down, you're not in a village here" after she called a colleague's remark racist.
- Aharish was deeply upset by Berkovich's comment and took time off from broadcasting.
- Critics accuse Rappaport of "cowardly silence" and "normalizing racism" by not demanding an apology from Berkovich.
- Haaretz TV critic Rogell Alpher and Channel 12 journalist Barak Ravid are among those criticizing Rappaport.
- Moria Asraf, the political correspondent whose initial remark sparked the controversy, is also criticized by some.
Channel 13 owner Assaf Rappaport is facing criticism for his handling of a controversy involving anchor Lucy Aharish and commentator Eyal Berkovich. The dispute began on election night when political correspondent Moria Asraf discussed the possibility of a "Zionist government" and "90 Zionist mandates." Aharish called the remark racist, leading to a heated exchange with Berkovich during a commercial break, where he reportedly told her, "Calm down, you're not in a village here." Aharish was visibly upset and left the studio, later crying to Rappaport and CEO Idan Alrom. Channel 13 management stated that Berkovich's alleged comments were unacceptable. Despite initial intentions to demand an apology, Berkovich did not retract his words. Aharish was absent from broadcasts for several days, reportedly due to her distress over the channel's response, though her associates clarified she wasn't issuing an ultimatum. She has since returned to air without an apology from Berkovich, and the channel issued a general statement against racism.
Haaretz TV critic Rogell Alpher slammed Rappaport's public silence as "cowardly and distorted," questioning his liberal values and stating that Berkovich's continued presence on air diminishes Rappaport's moral standing. Alpher also harshly criticized Berkovich, calling him a "racist" with no place on a channel promoting liberal values. Channel 12 journalist Barak Ravid echoed this sentiment, accusing Rappaport of "normalizing racism" and agreeing with Alpher's assessment. Ravid also called for the new CEO of Channel 13 News, Itai Daganar, to "eradicate racism" from the broadcasts. Anat Kam, editor of Haaretz's opinion section, also weighed in, suggesting Berkovich could be "straightened out" as he is not inherently a bad person and his outspokenness is often an asset. However, she viewed Asraf's situation as more serious, given her perceived pretentiousness and the greater weight her opinions carry, questioning what would happen if Asraf were fired for her views.
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