Beersheba Councilor Seeks Kushmaro Exclusion From Municipal Events Pending Apology

Beersheba City Council member Yair Shushan has asked municipal director-general Liz Ovadia to withhold municipal hosting and commentary assignments from television presenter Danny Kushmaro until he explicitly apologizes. In a letter dated November 2, Shushan included Memorial Day ceremonies and other official city events. His request covers appearances paid for by the municipality as well as voluntary participation on municipal stages. Shushan linked his request to remarks he said Kushmaro made on the October 30 edition of Ulpan Shishi about the Mishor Hagefen neighborhood in Ofakim and its residents’ election voting. The letter sets out Shushan’s complaint about those remarks; it does not establish that Beersheba has adopted the restriction he seeks. Shushan wrote that he was addressing Ovadia in his capacity as a council member and on behalf of residents who had contacted him. In explaining the request, Shushan said Beersheba includes Likud voters and residents holding other political views, who mourn the same fallen and deserve respect regardless of how they vote. “The request concerns municipal stages only,” he wrote, distinguishing city appointments from Kushmaro’s wider freedom of expression. He ended by asking Ovadia to respond and provide an update on the municipality’s decision.