Left-Leaning Channels Continue Broadcasting in Israeli Hospitals Despite Promises to Switch to Nature Content

In recent weeks, left-wing activists, including notable figures Uri Misgav and Tomer Avital, have demanded that Israeli hospitals stop broadcasting Channel 14, which they accuse of spreading falsehoods and incitement. Following these demands, hospitals Meir and Beilinson announced they would replace news channels with nature and children’s programming on public screens to maintain a neutral and pleasant environment.

However, an investigation by journalist Matan Yitzhaki revealed that despite these promises, Channels 12 and 13 continue to be broadcast in some public areas of these hospitals. Specifically, Channel 13 was observed in Beilinson’s outpatient clinics and Schneider Emergency Room, while Channel 12 was seen in Meir Hospital’s Breast Health Center and Information Center.

Both hospitals responded to the findings, reiterating their commitment to keeping public spaces neutral and free of political controversy. Beilinson Hospital stated it conducted a review after the report to ensure only nature content is broadcast, emphasizing the complexity of managing over 300 televisions across its facilities. Meir Hospital described itself as an apolitical public institution dedicated to professional medical care and said it continues to monitor and address any technical issues to uphold a respectful environment.

Uri Misgav celebrated the initial decision as a victory in his campaign and encouraged expanding the effort to other medical institutions. The ongoing discrepancy between the hospitals’ statements and the actual broadcasts highlights challenges in enforcing content changes in large medical centers.