Channel 14 presenter with a sharp statement on live broadcast: "Come out of the closet, stand in the light"
Dana Varon criticized MK Gilad Kariv on air following a video where the politician addressed the Arab sector. The presenter accused "The Democrats" party of duplicity, urging them to be transparent about their political agenda.
Dana Varon, host of the morning show on Channel 14, delivered a sharp monologue targeting Knesset member Gilad Kariv of "The Democrats" party. The channel broadcast a video in which Kariv addresses Arab voters in Israel, clarifying that his party intends to work toward a political partnership with Arab factions.
"We will refuse to dance to the tune of Netanyahu's campaign that rejects political partnership between Jews and Arabs, and we will strive for this partnership not only as a political tool," Kariv told those present at the conference.
The video, which included Arabic subtitles, sparked significant reaction on social media. Addressing Channel 14 viewers, Varon criticized the politician's messaging:
"Say a big 'mazal tov' to MK Gilad Kariv and 'The Democrats' party, which recently celebrated 100,000 followers on its Arabic Facebook page. An impressive achievement, congratulations. However, the truly interesting story begins when you listen to what Kariv says in Arabic.
When Gilad Kariv speaks like Mansour Abbas in Hebrew in the studios, we hear one thing, but when he speaks to the 'cousins,' we hear something completely different. In Tel Aviv, we hear about a state camp, Zionism, security, and responsibility, but when he switches to Arabic, the tune changes. Suddenly, there is a fatal courtship of the Arab public, and they become full and natural partners in leading the country."
Varon continued her critique, accusing the party of using conflicting messages for different audiences: "In Hebrew, they lull us to sleep, selling the center-left stories about a Zionist coalition independent of anyone, but in Arabic — they are partners, they are important, they are leaders. We are confused, Gilad. Which message is the real one? Who are you lying to: the Jews in the studios or the Arabs on Facebook? In the era of GPT, it is easy to verify what you are saying in Arabic.
My advice, Gilad: don't be ashamed to be yourself. Even if you are an endangered and very unpopular species, come out of the closet, stand in the light. That way, on election day, we will know who must not be voted for under any circumstances."
