Channel 13 Suspends Host Eyal Berkowitz Amid Controversy
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Channel 13 suspended host Eyal Berkowitz after he questioned the medical degree of Arab-Israeli MK Ahmad Tibi on air. This follows a recent altercation where Berkowitz allegedly told journalist Lucy Aharish "you are not in your village here." Berkowitz has a history of controversial remarks targeting politicians and parties. The network cited values and condemned potential racism.
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- Channel 13 suspended host Eyal Berkowitz for questioning MK Ahmad Tibi's medical doctorate on air.
- Berkowitz's suspension follows an alleged altercation with journalist Lucy Aharish where he made a disparaging remark.
- The network stated Berkowitz's comments were incompatible with its values and potentially racist.
- Berkowitz has a history of making provocative statements about politicians and parties.
- This marks a new boundary set by Channel 13 after previous controversies.
- Ahmad Tibi is a medical doctor and Member of Knesset.
- Lucy Aharish is an Arab-Israeli journalist.
Israeli television Channel 13 has suspended Eyal Berkowitz, a former football international turned host, following controversial remarks made on air. The suspension, announced on Sunday, came after Berkowitz questioned the medical doctorate of Arab-Israeli Member of Knesset Ahmad Tibi during a live broadcast. Berkowitz stated, "Everyone is a doctor. Let him show his diploma," and also cast doubt on the qualifications of American political figure Abdul El-Sayed. Channel 13's management condemned the comments as incompatible with the network's values, asserting that freedom of expression does not justify racist statements.
This incident follows a recent altercation between Berkowitz and Arab-Israeli journalist Lucy Aharish. During an election night broadcast, Aharish reportedly took issue with Berkowitz's remarks about forming a "Zionist" government, which she found discriminatory. During a commercial break, Berkowitz allegedly told her, "Calm down, you are not in your village here." Aharish, visibly upset, left the studio in tears and was absent from the air for a period. Upon her return, she delivered a speech against racism and intimidation. Berkowitz acknowledged his phrasing was clumsy but denied accusations of racism.
Berkowitz has a history of making provocative statements. In 2020, he called the Likud party a "criminal organization," leading to a confrontation with minister Miri Regev. He later clarified he was targeting party leaders, not voters. He has also criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him in 2023 of dividing the country and urging him to step down, and has questioned minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's ability to manage his portfolio. Berkowitz's provocations have also targeted Arab elected officials, whom he labeled "terrorists" and "Trojan horses" within the Knesset as early as 2018. He also had a verbal altercation with Ahmad Tibi in 2013.
While Berkowitz's outspokenness previously contributed to his notoriety, the recent incidents with Lucy Aharish and Ahmad Tibi appear to have led Channel 13 to set a boundary.
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