Channel 13 Suspends Eyal Berkovic After Remarks About Ahmad Tibi

Channel 13 suspended presenter Eyal Berkovic on Sunday, November 8, after remarks he made about MK Ahmad Tibi’s medical qualifications during Saturday’s broadcast of Moria and Berko. The broadcaster said the suspension took effect immediately following a clarification conversation with Berkovic. News 13 said the remarks were unacceptable and inconsistent with the company’s values. It stated: “Freedom of expression and diversity of opinion are cornerstones of a free press.” The company added that those principles did not justify racist remarks. Berkovic presents the program alongside Moria Asraf. The exchange took place during a discussion with journalist Suleiman Maswadeh. Berkovic questioned the medical credentials of Abdul El-Sayed, and Asraf responded that El-Sayed held the qualification. Berkovic then raised Tibi’s name and asked for proof of his qualification. Maswadeh answered that Tibi was a physician and said Berkovic had diverted the discussion. The company’s decision on Sunday followed that broadcast exchange. Days earlier, Berkovic had also clashed on air with colleague Lucy Aharish. She demanded an apology after he told her to calm down and referred to a village. Berkovic later acknowledged that the remark might have been inappropriate while disputing the broader characterization of him.