Channel 13 Cancels Berkovic Interview Amidst Racism Row
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Channel 13 has canceled the broadcast of a pre-recorded interview with host Eyal Berkovic following a public dispute with anchor Lucy Aharish. The interview was pulled to de-escalate tensions after Berkovic told Aharish to "calm down, you're not in a village here" during a discussion about a "Zionist government." Aharish, who called the remark racist, returned to air after management intervention, while Berkovic admitted his comment was inappropriate but not racist.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Channel 13 canceled an Eyal Berkovic interview to reduce tension after a dispute with Lucy Aharish.
- Berkovic told Aharish to "calm down, you're not in a village here" during a "Zionist government" discussion.
- Aharish called the remark racist and demanded an apology, which Berkovic did not fully provide.
- Berkovic admitted his comment was inappropriate but denied it was racist.
- The interview was filmed for three hours and edited before its cancellation.
Channel 13 has decided not to air an interview with host Eyal Berkovic, which was scheduled for Thursday evening as part of Omri Assenheim's program. The interview, which had already been filmed over three hours and edited, was pulled at the last minute. Sources within the channel stated the decision was made to de-escalate tensions following a heated exchange between Berkovic and anchor Lucy Aharish earlier that week.
The controversy began when Moriah Asraf, Berkovic's co-host, called for a "Zionist government." Aharish reacted angrily, calling them "racists." Berkovic responded to Aharish by saying, "Calm down, you're not in a village here." This remark caused Aharish to cry and subsequently demand an apology from Berkovic to the channel's management.
When the apology was not forthcoming, Aharish did not appear on her program. Following discussions with management, she returned to air on Wednesday, addressing the incident publicly. She referenced her public commitment made when lighting a torch on Independence Day, linking it to the fight against racism and stating her refusal to be silenced by such remarks.
Berkovic also addressed the confrontation on his program, admitting his comment was inappropriate but denying it was racist, calling it "wrong" but "far from racism." Asraf also distanced herself from Berkovic's statement, distinguishing it from the discussion about a Zionist government's nature, and asserted that "Zionism is not racism."
Instead of Berkovic's interview, Channel 13 will broadcast a rerun of an interview with businessman Rami Levy. This decision to cancel a completed interview is considered unusual and aims to calm the situation after the public dispute.
