Ayala Hasson Announces Departure From Public Broadcaster Kan

Journalist and presenter Ayala Hasson announced on Tuesday, November 10, that she had decided to leave Israel’s public broadcaster Kan. She attributed her decision to a dispute over editorial independence and said she had not yet chosen her next professional home. “I have decided to end my professional work at the public broadcaster,” Hasson said. She accused people within the organization of trying to silence substantial sections of Israeli society to accommodate a particular political camp. She said she had stayed because she regarded giving another voice a hearing as a journalistic and public mission, especially at an organization required to represent all parts of Israeli society. Hasson cited the recent sequence of events and, in particular, what she described as an ultimatum to deliver a dictated apology on air. She characterized that demand as damaging to editorial independence. She said public broadcasting belonged to all Israeli citizens, including taxpayers whose opinions might be uncomfortable for its leadership. Hasson said her departure would not end her journalistic work or her relationship with viewers. She thanked supporters for what she described as tens of thousands of messages in recent days. She said she had received numerous professional offers over the years and currently, and expected viewers to see her on screen again soon.