Haaretz Journalist Sparks Outrage After Mocking Religious Headcover: "What Is This Bird on Her Head?"
Tali Heruti-Sover faces intense criticism after mocking the religious headcover of Nachala spokesperson Ayelet Schlissel.
A social media post by Haaretz and TheMarker journalist Tali Heruti-Sover has ignited a firestorm of criticism across the Israeli internet. The controversy centers on her public mockery of the religious headcovering (mitpachat) worn by Ayelet Schlissel, the spokesperson for the Nachala movement, during a television interview.
Schlissel, an observant Jewish woman, appeared on Channel 13 for an interview wearing a colorful, traditional headcover. Following the broadcast, Heruti-Sover shared a screenshot of Schlissel on Facebook with a caption that many viewed as derogatory toward the religious community.
Tali Heruti-Sover: "This bird she has on her head, is it for modesty purposes? Asking for a friend. (Don't preach to us about modesty/shomer negiah/the dignity of a princess... you empty wagons. Come on)."
The phrase "empty wagons" is a highly charged term in Israeli discourse, traditionally used to imply that secular Jews lack the cultural and spiritual "cargo" of the religious, but here used by Heruti-Sover to strike back at the religious public.
The post quickly drew thousands of reactions from across the political spectrum. Critics argued that instead of debating Schlissel’s political positions or the Nachala movement's ideologies, the journalist chose to launch a personal attack based on a religious symbol.
Many commenters accused the journalist of hypocrisy, questioning whether she would ever mock a Muslim woman’s hijab or other cultural attire in the same manner.
Critics argued that when a senior journalist uses their platform to mock a religious garment, it grants legitimacy to wider social derision of the observant public's beliefs and lifestyle choices.
Observers noted that while political disagreement is a staple of democracy, targeting a woman’s physical appearance and religious identity crosses a red line into "cheap shots" and the paradox of a journalist identified with "pluralism and freedom of choice" ridiculing a woman for her specific choice to express her faith.
Haaretz, once again, does not surprise anyone.