Sometimes you can’t be silent anymore. News 13 journalists discovered this in recent weeks, following years of relentless attempts to erode their freedom of the press in order to subordinate their broadcasts to the government’s narrative. They were silent when they fired Ayala Hasson, they were silent when they turned Avishai Ben Haim from a letter for ultra-Orthodox affairs to an oracle for Netanyahu affairs of the main edition, they were silent when they fired Barak Ravid and Usher Kotler and Lucy Ahrish and Avi Amit. It was the appointment of Yulia Shmalov-Berkovic as their editor-in-chief that brought them out of their bunkers and made them stop broadcasting business as usual. Yesterday came the decision to eliminate “War Zone”, Raviv Drucker’s daily program, and with it the fear that News 13 journalists woke up too late.
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The decision to take Drucker’s show off the screen is tainted with clear political motives, and Network 13 executives didn’t even try to hide it. Because it is possible to understand downloading a program from the air when it does not bring numbers; This is the meaning of commercial television for better or for worse. But when it comes to the *only* program of Channel 13 that manages to beat some of its competitors, brings in very good ratings for its airtime and a loyal viewership, yet the ax is taken down on it – you have to be as naive as a Channel 14 viewer to not understand what’s going on here.
There is only one benefit from keeping him off the screen. Raviv Drucker, “The Source” (screenshot: Network 13)
Shmalov-Berkovic’s entry into the position of CEO of News 13 is tainted by extreme improbability, because not only is she not a journalist and she lacks any professional experience in managing a news system, but she was also one of the leaders of the operation to eliminate News 10 (from which most of the news company of Network 13 came) On behalf of Netanyahu when he was appointed by his government to the chairman of the second authority. This woman is supposed to run the media body most critical of the government on television? Or is she supposed to make sure that such a media body does not remain in Israel? The answer is clear and loud. Benjamin Netanyahu has been fighting for years once morest Channel 10 in its various incarnations, and at least some of his entanglements in Case 1000 and Case 4000 are directly related to his obsession with controlling the channel’s news company. Since the publication of the “Bibi Torres” investigation, his fight once morest Raviv Drucker has also shifted to completely personal lines.
The takedown of his daily program – which is not produced by the news company, but by Drucker’s own production company – is intended to damage his pocket and his professional prestige and humiliate him, including a planned cut in his investigative program (“The Source”), so that he will also leave his position as the senior political commentator of News 13. Even if “War Zone” was not to my personal liking, the story here is not the program but its presenter. Everyone knows who wants his head. You can call him a “senior political figure”. When you read the list in front of you, you understand exactly why.
The Sifatah: Diaries of Omri Sharon (2006)
Today, it is customary to attribute to Drucker a personal hostility towards Benjamin Netanyahu. But in 2006, Drucker gave Netanyahu quite a gift – just before the election campaign, in which Netanyahu was fighting with Kadima. The diaries of Omri Sharon, the prime minister’s son, testified how the family ran the country through political appointments. The investigation didn’t really bring down Kadima (or help Netanyahu, who crashed in these elections), but it did prove how much Drucker was simply fighting the powerful – and it doesn’t matter where they come from.
The Blast: Bibi Torres (2011)
Some say this is why we came here. The comprehensive investigation once morest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the billionaires who financed his trips was so shocking – that it almost caused the channel to be closed. Netanyahu was offended, and presented to the heads of the channel – which is fighting for its life for financial reasons – a simple equation: give up Drucker, and the channel stays alive. The channel refused (and rightfully so) and from there began the scandal that continues to this day – from a series of regulatory moves designed to weaken the channel to the removal of Drucker from the broadcast schedule. The criminal investigation was closed following great pressure from the Prime Minister and legal counsel Weinstein’s surrender – but we all saw the leader’s face live.
Bread of Work: Ofer Eini’s investigation (2011)
When this investigation was published, Ofer Eini was considered one of the most powerful people in Israel. The chairman of the Histadrut is tough, who discussed political events (such as the entry of the Labor Party into the government in 2009). The stain of corruption on the image of the chairman – he showed how Eini influenced “Amal”, the education network of the Histadrut and worked to appoint associates within it, including his wife At that time, the CEO of the network Ravit Dom – it was impossible to remove more. This name also took time, but in the end the fact that Ofer Eini is no longer one of the most powerful people in Israel – is also related to this investigation.
The Propaganda: Investigating Israel Today (2013)
For the first time the famous “sausage factory” was exposed: six years following it was founded, Drucker published the investigation that revealed how the newspaper that worked for Netanyahu works. From texts changed by the editor-in-chief, through flattering pictures of the wife to journalists who were critical of Netanyahu and pushed into a corner. The publication of this investigation, like quite a few of Drucker’s investigations, encountered difficulties at home – but in the end it was published. “Israel Today” has changed little since then, but as we saw in the Drucker case – Netanyahu’s desire to take over the media is alive and well.
Corruption: KKL-Junk investigation (2015)
Part of the secret of Drucker’s magic is the ability to make complicated topics accessible, even to people who are less involved. One of them was the troubled conduct of the National Fund for Israel, an organization that does not usually receive attention but owns 2.5 million dunams, and generates four billion dollars a year (at that time). Drucker’s investigation revealed the funds they transfer to the parties, the excessive salaries – all at the taxpayer’s expense. Part of what good journalism can do is to illuminate dark corners. This particular corner has since been made dark for us once more.
The Big Boom: The Submarine Investigation (2016)
Perhaps Drucker’s exposure, one that changed the face of reality and revealed to the public the most serious security corruption case in the country’s history, in which indictments have already been filed and a state commission of inquiry was established, which submitted its interim conclusions this month, according to which the prime minister compromised the country’s security. In November 2016, Drucker revealed the suspicion that senior officers and public servants rigged tenders and accepted bribes in order to promote deals for the purchase of submarines from Germany. The investigation took time, but regarding a month ago, warning letters were sent to a number of senior officials – including Netanyahu, who is suspected of being connected to the deal through his lawyer and relative, attorney David Shimron. Another event that would have remained deeply in the dark if it weren’t for Drucker, who did journalistic work here that needs to be taught in schools.
The Dirty: The Lieberman Case (2018)
Today, Avigdor Lieberman is considered by many to be part of the opposition that is trying to overthrow a sitting prime minister, as a leader of oppositions. Lieberman’s rhetoric once morest the failed leader causes those who want to replace Netanyahu to stick to him. But the truth is that Lieberman always remains the same politician – one once morest whom nothing has been proven but leaves behind a series of suspicions that have not really disappeared. In the investigation published by Drucker, together with Baruch Kara and Gali Ginat, the three talented journalists were able to show how it happened: how Lieberman was able to repeatedly evade the law enforcement authorities – and how negligent they were in working with him. A good reminder that even in today’s politics and “yes Bibi no Bibi”, it is still important to remember the difference between clean and dirty.
Bag 4000 (2018)
In October 2015, Gidi Weitz exposed in “Haaretz” the systemic subjugation of the “Walla” website in favor of Netanyahu’s propaganda system, in exchange for regulatory benefits worth billions of shekels to the owner of the website at the time, Shaul Elovitch, as part of the Bezek-yes deal. In 2018, Drucker and Baruch Kara managed to make the complicated affair accessible through a multitude of testimonies and documents from the site’s employees and solidify the difficult suspicions once morest Netanyahu. Another case where Drucker helped the public interest, once morest the interest of the family.
The witness: Nir Hefetz recordings (2020)
In 2022, Drucker published the investigation of Nir Hefetz as part of “Hamakor”, including an interview with state witness number 1 in the prime minister’s criminal files. It was a miss, but two years earlier there he was laying his hands on the tapes of that object, which began to unfold the big picture regarding the madness that runs us, from the prime minister and the people who surround him, and more from the person who was closest to him. Nir Hefetz is certainly not a knight of the quality of government, but the information that Drucker received remains with us, and made it clear how busy Netanyahu is in running the country for his personal benefit and not for the benefit of the citizens.
Drucker is interviewed by Rino Zoror regarding the Nir Hefetz recordings
Raviv Drucker was interviewed this morning by Rino Zrur on GLAZ ahead of the original broadcast tonight regarding Nir Hefetz’s secret conversations>>>Tonight (Monday) following the news on the original, channel 13: exclusive exposure. Hefetz’s secret recordings. Hear and don’t believe…
Posted by Channel 13 on Monday, November 16, 2020
the last one? Miri Regev investigation (2024)
One investigation too many? It is possible that the important and outrageous article regarding the Minister of Transportation and the circus of conspiracies and protections that run it, along with the absolute focus on foreign considerations and personal matters, was for Netanyahu and his gang the final straw that led to Drucker’s removal from the strip of 19:00 in the evening. Drucker did it not for himself, but for us; As usual, he brought information that made us see more clearly the people who run our lives. Whether it’s Netanyahu, the Sharon family, Lieberman, Ofer Eini or Miri Regev – Drucker is there, at the crucial points to tell the truth. In a reformed and normal country he was a hero. In the Israel of 2024, the reward he receives is expulsion. From these people it is a real badge of honor. Drucker’s truth will always be stronger than his detractors.
