Netali Shem Tov: "I was fired from Channel 13 after a row over the Torch Lighting Ceremony"
After a long period of silence, former Channel 13 presenter Netali Shem Tov reveals the conflict that led to her departure. According to her, the channel's management reacted with hostility to her decision to host the Torch Lighting Ceremony.
Former Channel 13 presenter Netali Shem Tov has provided an unusual glimpse into the events behind the scenes at the network, arguing that the breaking point that eventually led to her departure was her decision to host the annual Torch Lighting Ceremony.
In a podcast conversation with Avi Shoshan, Shem Tov described the deep personal significance the ceremony held for her and the sharp reaction she says she received from the channel.
"It exploded, everything was severed when I agreed to host the Torch Lighting Ceremony," Shem Tov said, explaining that for her, the decision was much more than a professional opportunity.
"I grew up 100 meters from the fence. When you see the edge of the country with your own eyes every day from your window, you are anxious for its fate and you love it. You love it," she stated.
Shem Tov continued by explaining that the ceremony took on a particularly strong personal meaning that year. After her daughters were forced to evacuate their home, she wanted to allow them to experience an event that symbolizes continuity and hope.
"For me, in this specific year, it was not just a great honor. It was a personal closure. After a year and a half of being evacuated, when I couldn't explain to my daughters why they couldn't return home to get their things, I wanted to give them a front-row seat to celebrations that declare that the people of Israel live and exist, and that this country is a settled fact forever."
The conversation then turned to the dramatic reaction from the network. When asked how Channel 13 received her decision, Shem Tov replied:
"With shouting. They announced that I was not going to do it."
When pressed for further details, she declined to elaborate, citing legal sensitivities: "I will not go into it; these are sensitive legal matters."
Shem Tov’s account presents a picture of a sharp confrontation. From her perspective, the event was a moment of profound personal significance following her family's ordeal, while the channel viewed the decision in a completely different light. Her message remains clear: the agreement to host the ceremony was the catalyst for the crisis that ended her tenure at Channel 13.
