Razi Barkai spoke against the settlers - and was forced to apologize on a live broadcast
Radio broadcaster Razi Barkai apologized on a live radio broadcast, on the program ′What′s the Burning Issue" that is broadcast on Army Radio, to the residents of West Bank settlement of Kfar Tapuach. The apology came after him defaming them on his program after the burning of the carpet at the mosque in Kfar Yaasouf.
Barkai said then on his program that Kfar Tapuach is a "wild settlement" and stated that the (Jewish) "terrorists" always come from there. In addition, the veteran broadcaster suggested "removing" the settlement, in an interview conducted with the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yona Metzger.
Barkai was forced to apologize after the radio station received a warning letter before filing a libel suit. The letter, sent to the commander of Army Radio, Yitzhak Tunik, was written by the legal advisor of the settlers of Shomron Settlers′ Council, attorney Doron Nir - Tzvi, in the name of the directorate and residents in the community.
In his letter, Mr. Nir - Tzvi called Barkai′s words "detrimental words." Among other thing, he wrote: "We know that Mr. Barkai is a radical leftist journalist - who for a long time allows his personal opinions to disrupt his objectivity and journalistic professional expertise, but it seems that this time he passed all bounds of good taste, as he defamed my client in public as defined by the law prohibiting defamation of 5725, 1965.
As noted, following the letter Razi Barkai apologized on his live program to the residents of Kfar Tapuch.
A Legal Suit for Every Incitement
The Shomron Settlers Committee responded with satisfaction after the broadcaster′s apology. Yossi Dagan, of the residents committee said: "more than 300 thousand citizens live in Yesha, by merit, not by grace. Settlers were sent by the state on a pioneering Zionist mission, and no one has the right to defame and incite against them, even if he is a journalist.
"It′s time that the communication systems understand that the settler sitting duck era is over. You can not incite and blacken the wonderful population group that has done much good in the country. Every incitement will be met with a response; every defamation will bring on a lawsuit."
|
|
