Veteran broadcaster and Channel 13 news anchor Eli Rakhlin has filed a petition with the Tel Aviv Regional Labor Court seeking an injunction against his termination after 23 years with the company. Rakhlin, 60, argues that the decision to fire him was based on his age and that the stated reason, efficiency measures and organizational changes, served as a cover for unlawful dismissal.
The petition, filed against Channel 13 News and Reshet Media, alleges that the decision was made suddenly on the eve of Rosh Hashanah without substantive cause. Rakhlin further claims he was not given an opportunity to present his case before the decision to terminate his employment was finalized.
According to the veteran anchor, Channel 13 News CEO Tali Ben Ovadia has explicitly referenced his age in the past. He alleges that she would needle him, call him old, and describe him as occupying the slot of "the older anchor." Rakhlin contends that these statements demonstrate that his age was a central consideration in the decision to replace him and remove him from the screen.
