Netali Shem-Tov on Moriah Asraf: "It's a Disgrace and a Democratic Distortion"

Netali Shem-Tov, a former News 13 anchor, was a guest on the podcast "Everything is Open" (HaKol Patuach), hosted by media consultant Avi Shushan, where she discussed the legal battle she is leading against the broadcasting body and the treatment she allegedly received from colleagues. During the interview, Shushan addressed the claim that Reshet 13 provides a platform for a wide range of voices by employing Moriah Asraf, a Mizrahi journalist from a religious background.

"They will tell you: 'What do you want? We have Moriah Asraf. A Mizrahi woman, comes from a religious home, a right-winger. Here, we have someone, and everyone loves her and appreciates her and so on'," Avi Shushan said.

His words sparked the anger of the former news anchor, leading to sharp criticism of the management of the Channel 13 news company.

"First of all, I will not speak specifically about anyone. Moriah, if she wants, she will tell. I tend to believe she has something to tell. But does it seem logical to you that you have only one name of a right-winger to give me? It's a disgrace. It's a distortion. It's a democratic distortion that is illogical and impossible. Whoever waves one name around, it is a certificate of poverty for him. It is not a badge of honor, not at all," said Shem-Tov.

Afterwards, the journalist turned to Avi Shushan and drew his attention to the issue of right-wing representation in the media:

"Pay attention to the characteristics of right-wingers in the Israeli media. They are first of all either hating Netanyahu and/or are religious or come from a religious background. My case, a secular woman on the edge of traditional, they cannot understand. Avi, I described the facts and do me a favor, do not rationalize this shame. Do not go there. I am not going there, let them give explanations."