Veteran Journalist Attila Shmueli Declares He Is No Longer Part of Israel's Left

During a tense interview on i24NEWS's "Meeting of Extremes," veteran journalist Attila Shmueli addressed criticism regarding his political stances amid the judicial reform protests in Israel. Host Nava Drori noted Shmueli's previous identification with the left and his public support for the protests. Shmueli firmly rejected being politically categorized, stating, "I am no longer part of the left." However, he unequivocally affirmed his principled support for opposing the judicial reform, calling it a "legitimate and just civil struggle to defend democracy."

Drori challenged Shmueli by labeling the protests as violent and referencing acts of civil disobedience. Shmueli distinguished his views from the street actions, clarifying, "I was not part of those demonstrations. I do not have to agree with everything that happened in the streets. But I used my pens, keyboards, cameras, and microphones to express my opinion." When asked if he regretted his stance, he responded decisively, "No, I do not regret it. The role of journalism is not to flatter or serve the government but to criticize it."

The exchange peaked when Drori questioned how media outlets that support civil disobedience or avoid tough questions to senior officials like Shai Nitzan and Avichai Mandelblit could claim to be government critics. Shmueli concluded with a personal critique of the current Israeli media landscape, stating, "Fortunately, I am no longer part of Israeli journalism."

This interview highlights Shmueli's evolving political identity and his critical view of both the judicial reform protests and the state of Israeli media.