Incoming Second Authority Chair Dr. Yifat Ben-Hai Segev Dismisses Criticism from Certain Journalists

Dr. Yifat Ben-Hai Segev, the designated chair of Israel's Second Authority for Television and Radio, sharply criticized the Israeli media in an interview set to air on i24NEWS. She expressed that she is not offended by criticism from certain journalists, stating that many of them are not true journalists and that their work does not constitute real journalism. Ben-Hai Segev described the Israeli media as highly politically biased, a characteristic she believes has persisted over time. She pointed to the declining public trust in the media as evidence of this bias, emphasizing that this is a widely held public perception rather than her personal opinion.

When asked about criticism from specific journalists such as Matan Hodorov, Aviad Glickman, Guy Peleg, Raviv Drucker, and Ben Caspit, she responded that she is only offended by those whose opinions she respects. She further stated that she would tell these critics that they are not journalists in her view and that their work does not qualify as journalism. This interview highlights ongoing tensions between media regulators and the press in Israel, with Ben-Hai Segev taking a confrontational stance toward media criticism as she prepares to assume her new role.