A heavy blow to Asaf Rappaport and Channel 13: Veteran correspondent leaves after a decade
Channel 13 faces another departure as senior foreign correspondent Yosef Israel announces his resignation. The move comes amidst a wave of layoffs and internal turmoil following the acquisition process led by Asaf Rappaport.
The upheavals at Channel 13 show no signs of stopping, as the channel prepares to part ways with one of its most prominent figures. Foreign correspondent Yosef Israel has announced his departure after more than a decade with the company, according to a report by Gil Mishali.
As a key member of the channel's foreign desk, Israel was responsible for covering major international events, ranging from complex geopolitical shifts and election campaigns in the USA and Europe to global crises and natural disasters. Over the years, he became known for his live field reports from conflict zones and global hotspots, including his coverage from the front lines of the war in Ukraine.
Israel began his career in 2014 as a news editor on the digital desk of nana10 and later at News 10. He subsequently served as senior editor and deputy editor-in-chief of the News 13 website. In 2018, he transitioned to television broadcasting, joining the foreign desk under the management of Nadav Eyal. In 2020, he was officially appointed as the foreign news correspondent for News 13 and a presenter for the channel. His next professional move remains unknown.
As previously reported, Asaf Rappaport, who is currently awaiting the finalization of his acquisition of the company, is shaking up Reshet 13 and News 13 with an unprecedented wave of layoffs. Recently, several senior journalists received notices to vacate their positions, including health correspondent Hilla Alroy and the channel's US envoy, Neria Kraus. This follows an ongoing wave of voluntary departures hitting the network.
Just months after News 13 employees fought to prevent Patrick Drahi from taking control of the channel, tensions have flared again—this time regarding the new investor group led by high-tech entrepreneur Asaf Rappaport and the Merit fund. While the deal was initially perceived as a sign of the channel's independence, recent appointments and the conduct of those close to Rappaport are raising serious concerns among staff regarding the integrity of structural separation.
