Dramatic confrontation at Channel 13 News revealed: "I read it 5 times to believe"
The massive lawsuit filed by former anchor Netali Shem-Tov reveals behind-the-scenes recordings and transcripts, including heated exchanges early on the morning that fighting with Iran broke out.
Fascinating excerpts from the statement of claim filed by former Channel 13 news anchor Netali Shem-Tov have been published, revealing the conduct that led to the lawsuit.
Legal correspondent Avishai Grinzaig shared on social media excerpts from the affidavit submitted by Netali Shem-Tov in her lawsuit against the News 13 company. Grinzaig described the recordings and transcripts attached to the legal proceedings as a "fascinating industry treasure" and noted that the material is bizarre. In his remarks, Grinzaig addressed the practice of secretly recording workplace conversations, stating: "I find it difficult to understand how a person who records in secret, keeps the conversations, and suddenly releases them as part of a lawsuit expects to be hired again—but that is the recorder's own problem."
One of the documents presented by Shem-Tov as part of the affidavit includes a WhatsApp correspondence that took place at 4:50 AM, shortly after fighting erupted with Iran. Grinzaig wrote:
"I read it 5 times to believe that this conversation really took place at 4:50 AM, moments after Israel launched a surprise war against Iran. Netali Shem-Tov chose to submit this correspondence as part of her affidavit. Listen, I really don't know what to say. But it seems a bit excessive to me."
From the exchange of messages appearing in the affidavit, an internal conflict emerges regarding the distribution of anchoring and broadcasting roles between Shem-Tov and figures in the system, including Dana Shabtai. Among other things, on the day the war with Iran broke out, Netali Shem-Tov asked Shabtai: "I request that you do not remove me from anchoring the edition. There is no reason why I should not anchor today and do my job." Shabtai responded: "And I request that on such a day, you please cooperate."
Later in the transcript, additional messages from that same morning appear: Shabtai writes to the anchor: "We are opening an anchor position for the 19:00 edition at the Tel Aviv Municipality; do you intend to arrive there?" To this, Shem-Tov replied: "Dana, what you are doing is effectively removing me from the only role you left me."
In addition, Grinzaig shared a quote from the lawsuit materials referring to the appointment of Julia Shamalov-Berkovich to manage the news company. According to the quote provided, the Deputy CEO of Reshet explained the background to the move, stating: "They brought her in so that the company would stop being managed by its journalists."
