not everywhere· Culture· Updated
News 12 WhatsApp Chat Erupts Over Arab Sector Coverage
A heated internal debate erupted in the senior staff WhatsApp group of Channel 12 News on Thursday, after commentator Mohammed Magadla, also referred to as Mohammed Jadallah, criticized the network's coverage of Arab citizens. The exchange, which revealed ideological rifts within the newsroom, occurred amid reports of election bribery and a Supreme Court order for the Shin Bet to investigate suspected foreign funding from Qatar influencing the upcoming elections.
4 newsrooms · 1 language · since
What happened
- 01A heated debate erupted in the Channel 12 News staff WhatsApp group on Thursday over coverage of Arab voters and the definition of Hamas.
- 02Commentator Mohammed Magadla urged colleagues to represent Arab citizens, who make up 20% of Israel's population, in election reporting.
- 03Magadla warned against racist campaigns and briefings aimed at delegitimizing the Arab vote and pushing the Arab public outside the bounds of legitimacy.
- 04Reporter Adva Dadon expressed discomfort with Magadla for not explicitly labeling Hamas as a terrorist organization.
- 05Journalists Ilan Lokac and Ron Yaron expressed agreement with Magadla's remarks before Dadon's intervention.
- 06Channel 12 News CEO Avi Weiss abruptly ended the internal discussion, writing, "Thank you. We are finished."
- 07The clash occurred as Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg ordered the Shin Bet to probe suspected foreign election funding from Qatar.
Magadla initiated the conversation by urging his colleagues to consider the perspective of Arab citizens, who constitute 20% of Israel's population and are often marginalized in reporting. He warned against crossing the line between maintaining election integrity and succumbing to racist campaigns and briefings designed to push the Arab public outside the bounds of legitimacy. Magadla emphasized that the media has a duty to highlight the importance of minority voting rights as a fundamental democratic right.
While senior correspondent Ilan Lokac and editor Ron Yaron expressed agreement with Magadla's remarks, investigative reporter Adva Dadon challenged him. Dadon stated that she felt very uncomfortable with Magadla not explicitly labeling Hamas as a terrorist organization. The tense discussion was abruptly concluded when Channel 12 News CEO Avi Weiss intervened, writing, "Thank you. We are finished."
Summarized by baba from the reports of 4 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Srugim. Read Srugim’s originalThe coverage
4 newsrooms on this story
Who covered it
- LeftNone
- CentreNone
- Right3
- HarediNone
- ArabNone
- Other1
Not in the Centre press