Israeli journalist Geula Even-Sa'ar, wife of Justice Minister Gideon Sa'ar, resigned from the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC) on Sunday morning, ostensibly over news coverage limitations placed on her by the network for the election period.
"This morning I informed the Public Broadcasting Corporation of my resignation," Even-Sa'ar tweeted. "I have always believed in public broadcasting and for 30 years I have maintained loyalty to it while maintaining an uncompromising commitment to professionalism for the sake of the viewers. Unfortunately, I was not given the proper professional opportunity to continue doing this. Every woman is not just the man she is married to."Gideon Sa'ar tweeted in support of his wife, praising her wisdom and professionalism.
"Geula, my love. There is no other [woman] (nor another [man]) like you," he wrote. "Neither in wisdom nor professionalism; neither in the realm of interviewing nor in the presentation. Not in purity of mind or in judgment; neither in eloquence nor in the perfection of language use. Not regarding honesty or integrity; not in sensitivity or humanity – not in beauty either. "They lost a diamond," Sa'ar tweeted: "And you, always, will continue to shine far and wide."
גאולה אהובתי. אין עוד אחת (וגם לא אחד) כמוך. לא בחוכמה ולא במקצועיות. לא בתורת הראיון ולא בהגשה. לא בנקיון הדעת ולא בשיקול הדעת. לא ברהיטות ולא בשלמות השימוש השפה. לא ביושר ולא ביושרה. לא ברגישות ולא באנושיות. גם לא ביופי. הם איבדו יהלום. ואת, תמיד, תמשיכי לזהור למרחקים. https://t.co/tQdJzxa01q
— Gideon Sa'ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) July 31, 2022
Conflict of interest?
On July 21, Ynet reported that the ethics committee of the IPBC had convened to discuss the possible conflict of interest of Even-Sa'ar covering news pertaining to elections, as her husband is a political contender and the head of the New Hope Party.
"Unfortunately, I was not given the proper professional opportunity to continue doing this. Every woman is not just the man she is married to."
Geula Even-Saar
The ethics committee reportedly came to the conclusion that Even-Sa'ar should not host her show The Week due to the upcoming election.
"This morning we sadly received the resignation of Geula Even-Sa'ar, one of the most senior, professional and best anchors in the Israeli media," said KAN.
"Her achievements in public broadcasting, the qualities of her presentation and her skills as an interviewer characterized her throughout her career here. Her contribution to the Broadcasting Corporation since its inception has been great, unique and significant, and she has been an integral part of the KAN family. We wish her great success in the future, whatever she chooses."
Even Sa'ar, one of KAN's main news anchors for years, married New Hope Party head Gideon Sa'ar in 2013. During past political upheavals, she had distanced herself from the news world to various degrees.