Channel 13 Cancels Eyal Berkovich Interview Amid Racism Row
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Channel 13 has canceled a pre-recorded interview with Eyal Berkovich following a heated exchange with Lucy Aharish during an election broadcast. The interview was removed from the schedule to calm tensions after Aharish accused Berkovich and a colleague of racism. Berkovich has downplayed his remarks, but other journalists have condemned them, and Aharish has vowed not to remain silent.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Channel 13 canceled an Eyal Berkovich interview after his clash with Lucy Aharish.
- Aharish accused Berkovich and Moriah Asraf of racism during an election broadcast.
- Berkovich reportedly told Aharish to "calm down, you're not in the village here."
- Berkovich has downplayed his remarks, calling the racism accusation "going too far."
- Colleagues Razi Barkai and Raviv Drucker have demanded an apology from Berkovich.
- Aharish returned to the air, stating she "will not bow my head and remain silent."
Channel 13 has postponed a special interview with former footballer and television presenter Eyal Berkovich, more than a week after a heated confrontation between him and reporter Lucy Aharish during an election broadcast. The interview, which was filmed for three hours and had already been edited, was removed from the broadcast schedule on Thursday. Channel management decided to replace it with a rerun of an interview with businessman Rami Levy, aiming to de-escalate tensions following the incident.
The controversy began on election night when Moriah Asraf, who co-hosts a program with Berkovich, discussed the possibility of a government based on "30 Zionist mandates." Aharish objected, calling Berkovich and Asraf "racist." During a commercial break, a loud argument ensued, during which Berkovich reportedly told Aharish, "Calm down, you're not in the village here." Aharish left the studio upset and was reportedly seen crying to Assaf Rappaport, one of the channel's owners, who intervened along with CEO Idan Elrom.
Following the incident, Aharish was absent from her program for several days. Reports indicated that despite demands from some management figures for an apology from Berkovich, none was issued. Newsroom employees reportedly expressed support for Aharish. The channel's management stated on Tuesday that clarification talks had been held and issues resolved, adding that the channel condemns racism and has zero tolerance for it.
Aharish returned to the airwaves on Wednesday, stating, "I will not bow my head and remain silent." Berkovich addressed his remarks for the first time on his program "Moriah and Berkovich," saying, "It's possible I said something wrong, but from there to racism? That's going too far." However, some colleagues disagreed. Razi Barkai demanded an apology on his program "Zonat Bechira," and Raviv Drucker described the statement as "serious, sharp, racist, and inappropriate."
The cancellation of Berkovich's interview suggests that the repercussions of the controversy are still being felt within Channel 13, and it remains unclear if or when the interview will be rescheduled.
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