Israeli Hospitals Stop Broadcasting Channel 14 Following Journalists' Campaign
Two veteran Israeli journalists, Uri Misgav from Haaretz and independent journalist Tomer Avital, recently urged several hospitals, health funds, and medical centers across Israel to cease broadcasting Channel 14 on public screens. Their campaign targeted the channel due to its political content, which they described as inflammatory and divisive. Following their appeals, some institutions responded by switching their public televisions to nature or calming content instead of news.
At the start of last week, Misgav announced on Facebook that Beilinson Hospital had directed all its departments to broadcast only National Geographic on their screens, prohibiting other content. The hospital stated it is an apolitical entity providing professional medical services to all sectors of Israeli society and aims to maintain a pleasant and respectful environment for patients and visitors. Similarly, Assuta Medical Network quickly followed suit, banning all news broadcasts to avoid adding stress to patients in waiting areas.
The journalists also sent formal requests to other institutions, including the Abarbanel Mental Health Center, Bar Yaakov Psychiatric Hospital, and major health funds like Maccabi and Clalit, with plans to approach the Ministry of Health's director general. Public figures such as Hagai Frenkel from Ra'anana, Dan Ben Yehuda from Kfar Saba, and Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Reuven Ladiansky joined the call to remove Channel 14 from hospital screens, citing its politically charged and controversial content.
In response to Ladiansky's letter, Ichilov Hospital's director, Prof. Eli Shapira, confirmed that their public screens have long been used exclusively for essential health, safety, and hospital service information, emphasizing the hospital's commitment to inclusivity and neutrality.
Misgav described the campaign as a "cleansing operation" to remove what he called "poisonous and inciting broadcasts" from the healthcare system. Avital highlighted evidence of Channel 14 being the sole channel broadcast in some sensitive areas, often without the possibility to change it, and cited fact-checking sources that label the channel as a leading source of falsehoods and incitement. He stressed the importance of providing neutral content to patients, families, and staff, noting that hospitals like Beilinson, Sheba, and Assuta have already implemented such changes.
