Prof. Cohen-Eliya: We'll settle with Kan over Hasson case

The storm over the demand to suspend veteran journalist Ayala Hasson from Kan, Israel's public broadcaster, continues to draw sharp responses from public and academic figures. Prof. Moshe Cohen-Eliya has launched a fierce attack on the broadcaster's management, accusing it of political harassment and claiming the move is a targeted silencing of an independent journalistic voice.

"In a world where journalism undergoes complete political fertilization, Ayala Hasson is a journalist of the old school," he said. "Her name is attached to some of the most important investigative exposés in the history of the State of Israel, from the mythological Bar-On–Hebron affair of 1997 to the Harpaz affair. These were not right-wing or left-wing exposés, but real journalism, uncompromising and committed only to the truth."

"They wanted her out and looked for an excuse"

Prof. Cohen-Eliya addressed the background that led to the confrontation, claiming selective enforcement by Kan's news division managers regarding on-air personalities' statements on social media and outside broadcast frameworks.

"What happened to Ayala Hasson is that she saw the power centers, saw that they don't see a meter ahead, and when she moved politically, they decided to carry out targeted sabotage against her," he claimed. "She was required to apologize for things she said outside the broadcaster in the context of problematic practices in Bedouin society, things that are even supported by official reports. And even when she apologized, they weren't satisfied and demanded to humiliate her."

According to him, Hasson was held to an entirely different standard than other presenters. "This happens while attorney Barak Cohen continues to broadcast there and no one demanded an apology from him for statements outside the broadcaster, and this happens when other broadcasters expressed themselves sharply on social networks and the broadcaster stated that the remarks were made outside the work framework. They simply wanted to fire her and looked for an excuse, and to hell with the facts."

"One day we will settle accounts with this broadcaster"

Concluding his remarks, he presented a firm response regarding the future of public broadcasting in Israel, claiming that the loss of public trust will ultimately lead to its closure or fundamental change.

"Hasson is no sucker and she exposed the fraud, and the people are no suckers and have no reason to watch another propaganda channel for the left at full blast on our account," he attacked. "One day we will settle accounts with this corrupt broadcaster, when Landenberg's decision to humiliate Hasson will be one of the key factors in that decision by the people."

Concluding, he compared the situation in Israel to what is happening in the United States: "Just as Trump shut down public radio that was very biased to the left, that is also what will happen to the rotten and politically corrupt institution from the ground up called the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation. Ayala, the people are with you and we are convinced you will soon find a home worthy of your excellent journalistic skills."