Reshet 13 US Correspondent Sparks Controversy with Deleted Instagram Story

Reshet 13 US correspondent Suleiman Maswada sparked controversy after publishing and quickly deleting an Instagram story in Arabic featuring the threatening phrase "Every dog has its day, one after another" alongside a wait-and-see emoji. The cryptic post came hours after a tense on-air incident that led to the suspension of prominent Israeli host Eyal Berkovic.

The social media uproar followed a broadcast of the current affairs program hosted by Moria Assraf and Eyal Berkovic, during which they connected live with Maswada in Washington to discuss the election of Abdul El-Sayed to the US Senate. The discussion quickly derailed into a controversial exchange when Berkovic questioned the guest's academic credentials, mockingly remarking, "Everyone gets a doctorate title there. Did you check if he is actually a doctor? They also say Ahmad Tibi is a doctor."

Disciplinary Action and Public Backlash

Following the broadcast, Reshet 13 management swiftly summoned Berkovic for an urgent disciplinary hearing and announced his immediate suspension from the network. In an official statement, the channel emphasized that freedom of expression does not validate racist remarks and that the statements made on air violate company values. The suspension triggered widespread debate across the Israeli media industry, drawing sharp reactions from figures including MK Ahmad Tibi, while Assraf and Berkovic's son publicly defended the embattled host.

Suleiman Maswada, who began his career at the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation before joining Reshet 13 as a US correspondent, found himself at the center of the unfolding media storm, leaving followers guessing about the intended target of his deleted social media message.