Ayelet Hasson Quits Public Broadcasting Corporation Over Censorship Claims

Journalist and television presenter Ayelet Hasson announced Tuesday her departure from the Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan). Hasson, identified with the right-wing, stated her decision stemmed from a dispute with the corporation's management regarding her remarks about the Arab sector and a demand for a public apology. In a statement to her viewers, Hasson wrote, "I have decided to end my professional journey at the Public Broadcasting Corporation. I will not be part of a system that seeks to silence entire and large voices in the nation of Israel to please a certain camp."

Hasson explained that throughout her tenure, she prioritized giving voice to positions she felt were underrepresented in public broadcasting. However, she claimed that over time, she realized that elements within the system preferred appeasing a specific political camp over upholding freedom of expression and diversity of opinion. The breaking point, she stated, was the demand to read a dictated apology on air for her previous comments.

"The series of recent events, chief among them the ultimatum presented to me to read a dictated apology on air, illustrated how much journalistic independence has been harmed at the corporation," she wrote. Hasson emphasized that for her, this was not a personal conflict but a struggle for the right of an entire public to express its views. "Public broadcasting is not the property of any camp. It belongs to all citizens of Israel," she asserted, adding that it should not be turned into a tool serving one side of the political map.

Hasson expressed gratitude for tens of thousands of messages of support she received recently and affirmed her intention to continue her journalistic work after leaving. Regarding her next career move, she mentioned receiving numerous offers over the years, including recently, but has not yet decided where she will work. "My path continues, and I am sure we will meet again on screen soon," she concluded.