Professor Moshe Cohen-Eliya Urges Journalist Amit Segal to Leave Channel 12 Amid Internal Turmoil
Professor Moshe Cohen-Eliya has recently become embroiled in controversy following his critical post against Israel's Channel 12 news. Speaking on Tuesday, Cohen-Eliya accused Channel 12 of spiraling after its ratings dropped to single digits, not only in the flagship Friday studio program but also in the main news broadcast. He highlighted a conflict involving journalist Amit Segal and Michal Faelin, a left-wing activist, who called Segal a "mouthpiece of the poison machine." Segal responded by sharing a tweet calling Faelin a "beast 12." The channel's management reportedly intervened, leading both to delete their posts.
Cohen-Eliya expressed surprise that Segal liked his post titled "A Constitutional Law Test for Dr. Ilana Dayan," which sharply criticized Dayan and Nadav Eyal for hypocrisy and ignorance regarding freedom of expression. He suggested that something troubling is happening within Channel 12's news division.
In response to the legal storm, Segal was described by Cohen-Eliya as "the most articulate and intelligent voice on Channel 12," despite disagreements on some issues. Segal was among the first to criticize a petition and initially believed the Netanyahu trial would end in Netanyahu's favor. Cohen-Eliya noted Segal's role as a rare alternative voice to the channel's dominant narratives.
Cohen-Eliya warned that Channel 12's leadership understands that if Segal leaves, the channel risks collapsing into Channel 13. He predicted that remaining right-wing supporters would also depart, emphasizing Segal's independent media influence. He encouraged Segal to take a risk by creating an alternative media empire, akin to The Daily Wire, offering a new, balanced, and professional voice. Cohen-Eliya acknowledged the personal toll of working in a politically hostile environment dominated by figures like Faelin and Ilan Lukatch, suggesting Segal should "let go" and move on, allowing Channel 12 to fade without him.
