Radio station fined NIS 10,000 for Azaria attorney Sheftel's insults against IDF chief
Following offensive remarks made by convicted killer Elor Azaria's last remaining Attorney Yoram Sheftel on his radio show, the station is fined for NIS 10,000; among other comments, Sheftel called IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot 'a lowlife' and made fun of his weight.
The Second Authority for Television & Radio—the public authority that supervises commercial broadcasting in Israel—decided to fine radio station 103FM NIS 10,000 following harsh remarks made by Attorney Yoram Sheftel on his radio show about IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot.
Sheftel currently serves as Elor Azaria's last remaining lawyer, who was convicted of killing a neutralized terrorist and sentenced to 18 months in prison.
In response to Azaria's conviction, Sheftel said in one of his shows that Eisenkot "does not seem like a soldier due to his obesity," and that Eisenkot "looks like some clerk in a town hall." He also called a "lowlife."
After the Second Authority received complaints from listeners, the director of 103FM asked Sheftel to apologize, which he agreed to do.
"I do not see fit to use body image as criticism, and I apologize to those who were offended by me."
Despite his apology, the Second Authority decided to fine the station for NIS 10,000.
"Freedom of expression has a lot of weight when it comes to public figures and public discourse," the Second Authority explained in a statement." But there is also a limit, certainly when things come out of the mouth of a radio host.
"These were hurtful and humiliating insults, without any apparent need for them to express his position. They deviated from the minimum level of decency in discourse by a radio host using public resources."
The station is required to pay the fine within 21 days and has the right to appeal.
103FM said in response, "We respect the decision of the Second Authority. As is well-known, Sheftel was summoned by the station's director for a conversation following his statements, after which he apologized for the broadcast and retracted his remarks."
About a month ago, the Second Authority decided to fine the station NIS 120,000 because of other offensive remarks made by Sheftel against listeners.
