Channel 13 CEO Yulia Shamalov-Berkovich refuses to resign – Israel News
Less than a week after Channel 13 and staff representatives at the news channel agreed to fire interim chief Yulia Shamalov-Berkovich, reports emerged that Shamalov-Berkovich refused to resign and insisted she stay in her post. This was first reported on Monday by Walla Journalist David Wertheim.
At the beginning of August, journalists and management of the Israeli news channel Channel 13 agreed to fire Shamalov-Berkovich and replace her within two months.
Channel 13 journalists opposed her appointment as managing director on the grounds that she allegedly lacked the necessary journalistic experience, acted against the company and its reporters, and allegedly behaved offensively towards women.
The union’s chairman, Matan Hodorov, commented on the situation, saying: “Something strange is happening here. Five days after we signed the agreement with Channel 13 and the News Company to dismiss Yulia Shamalov-Berkovich, the agreement to resign has still not been signed.”
Hodorov added: “The board has not yet met to vote on her dismissal. By law, there are two ways to remove a CEO: either by resignation or by firing her. If neither happens, the company is in a kind of limbo. It is impossible to hire and retain employees, sign contracts or carry out special projects – all of which require the CEO’s approval. However, as long as she remains in her role, no one recognizes her authority.”
He also stated: “It is not only the employees who refuse to accept them, but also the management, which has officially stated that it does not want them. Apparently there is a persistent presence contrary to the wishes of both parties. Today we read in Walla that Shamalov-Berkovich appears to be trying to create a kind of bloc among the board members who represent the public.”
Possible legal implications
Hodorov concluded with a question: “These are the same people who bore the brunt of the Supreme Court’s criticism at the last session and are now waiting for the Prosecutor General’s legal opinion. Are they acting in the public interest?”
“It is clear to us that representatives of the public cannot cooperate in such an initiative. This completely contradicts their role, and it is obvious that Channel 13 must ensure the implementation of the agreement with employees. We have no doubt that this will happen. The agreement has received the green light from the owner, Mr. Len Blavatnik personally. Therefore, we are confident that in the coming days the company will do everything necessary to replace Shamalov-Berkovich and will not force us to use other means to ensure this obligation,” Hodorov noted.
Jerusalem Post and Maariv staff contributed to this report.
