Channel 13 News suspended television presenter Eyal Berkovic from broadcasting on Sunday following remarks widely criticized as racist, marking his second controversy in just over a week after a confrontation with fellow presenter Lucy Aharish.
According to a report published by Israeli entertainment news outlet TMI on Sunday, Berkovic questioned the academic credentials of Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, who was elected to the US Senate from Michigan, during Saturday night's broadcast of the Channel 13 program "Moria and Berko." He later questioned the medical qualifications of Israeli lawmaker Ahmad Tibi.
Following the incident, Channel 13 News announced that Berkovic had been suspended from broadcasting, effective immediately.
"Freedom of expression and a diversity of opinions are among the cornerstones of a free press, but they do not provide a platform for racist remarks," the network stated. "The statements made yesterday on 'Moria and Berko' are unacceptable and inconsistent with the company's values. As a result, a clarification meeting was held with Eyal Berkovic, at the conclusion of which it was decided to suspend him from broadcasting immediately."
Berkovic questions whether El-Sayed entitled to use title 'doctor'
The controversy began when Channel 13 political reporter Suleiman Maswadeh introduced El-Sayed, a Democrat known for his outspoken criticism of Israel, using the title "doctor."
Berkovic questioned whether El-Sayed was entitled to use the title, asking, "They give everyone there the title of doctor. Did you check whether he's a doctor?"
His co-host, Moriah Asraf, clarified that El-Sayed did hold the qualification, but Berkovic continued, turning his attention to Tibi, an Arab Israeli member of the Knesset.
Berkovic said, "They also say Ahmad Tibi is a doctor. So they say. Let him bring his diploma."
El-Sayed is a physician and epidemiologist who holds a medical degree from Columbia University and a doctorate in public health from Oxford University. Tibi is also a trained gynecologist.
The remarks drew widespread criticism on social media, including from prominent Israeli journalists.
Channel 12 journalist Barak Ravid condemned the comments, writing that "racism is not a legitimate opinion or a matter of being for or against."
Suspension follows confrontation with Lucy Aharish
The suspension comes just over a week after Berkovic faced criticism over a separate incident involving Channel 13 presenter Lucy Aharish, an Arab Israeli journalist.
During a commercial break, Berkovic told Aharish, "Calm down, you're not in your village here."
Aharish accused Berkovic of racism and initially refused to return to the broadcast. She later returned to the screen.
Channel 13 did not specify how long Berkovic's suspension would last or when he might return to broadcasting.