Channel 14 Staff Mocks Likud's Reserved Media Slots for Knesset Race
Channel 14 employees mocked the party's reserved slots for prominent network personalities in the Likud list ahead of the 26th Knesset elections.
The Israeli political arena was set abuzz last night with the closing of party registrations for the 26th Knesset elections, alongside the marathon of reserved slots presented by Prime Minister Биньямин Нетаниягу since the morning hours.
Internal Reactions at Channel 14
With the publication of the reserved names, a widespread wave of criticism arose from politicians and media figures alike. However, few could have anticipated how the network's own employees would react to these political transitions. A screenshot from an internal WhatsApp group of Channel 14 employees reveals the attitude within the newsroom toward the influx of reserved spots in «Ликуд».
According to a report by Israel Hayom, the image depicts a routine conversation among staff members that began as an innocent search for a shofar for the month of Elul. It quickly turned into internal banter regarding the rapid transition of network personalities into reserved slots on the «Ликуд» electoral list.
"There are none, everyone moved to «Ликуд»," one employee quipped in response to a logistical question about finding a shofar, an answer that immediately drew dozens of laughing emojis from fellow colleagues.
Prominent Media Figures Secured
Immediately following the exchange, another employee shared an official photo of three prominent network commentators and hosts: Yaakov Bardugo, Yinon Magal, and Shimon Riklin, who are considered close confidants and messengers of Биньямин Нетаниягу. Alongside the photo, depicting the three in formal suits, the employee added the word "Choose".
The backdrop to these remarks is the official decision of Биньямин Нетаниягу to grant reserved spots on the «Ликуд» list to media figures closely aligned with him. Yaakov Bardugo, one of the network's senior hosts and commentators, has long been regarded as a confidant of the Prime Minister and a central coordinator of political messaging.
Alongside Bardugo, the list also includes Amir Avivi, chairman of the "Habitchunistim" movement and a regular panelist on the program The Patriots, which served as a consistent platform for promoting his positions, as well as bereaved father Itzil Bonzel, who became a regular participant on Channel 14. Additionally, the third reserved spot, attorney David Peter of the Kohelet Forum, has previously represented «Ликуд» MKs and promoted key clauses of the judicial overhaul, cementing the common denominator of all mentioned figures as Channel 14 panelists.
