MK Tally Gotliv Defends Suspended TV Host Eyal Berkovic Over Tibi Remarks
MK Tally Gotliv defended suspended TV host Eyal Berkovic, criticizing Reshet 13 management and questioning MK Ahmad Tibi's medical credentials amid a growing freedom of speech controversy.
MK Tally Gotliv (Likud) has defended suspended TV host Eyal Berkovic, criticizing Reshet 13 management and questioning the medical credentials of MK Ahmad Tibi. Gotliv's comments on X came after Berkovic was suspended from the "Moria and Berko" program following remarks about Tibi's doctorate.
During a broadcast discussing US Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed, Berkovic questioned foreign degrees, stating, "Anyone is given the title doctor there. Did you check if he is a doctor? They also say Ahmad Tibi is a doctor." Reshet 13 strongly condemned the remarks as unacceptable racism, leading to his immediate suspension.
Gotliv accused the channel of hypocrisy, stating that Berkovic was never suspended for insulting right-wing figures, but faced severe punishment for remarks regarding Tibi. Gotliv also drew parallels to the ongoing dispute between Kan 11 anchor Ayala Hasson and the public broadcaster's management, condemning both incidents as suppression of speech.
MK Tibi initially reacted angrily, calling the broadcast racist, and later posted an AI-generated image depicting him as a referee showing a red card to Berkovic. Meanwhile, Hasson's dispute with Kan 11 continues to escalate over editorial pressure and freedom of the press.
