Dim Amor
The editorial staff of "Maakav", which first exposed the Doron Medalie case in August 2025 and published a series of investigations through November, now reveals how senior journalists in public broadcasting are allegedly attempting to whitewash the serious accusations against the well-known artist. At the center of the storm: Dorit Asraf Mizrahi, reporter and head of the culture department at Kan News and host of "Tarbutnikim" on Channel B, whose messages to the editorial staff raise serious questions about journalistic objectivity and double standards.
At the end of November this year, nearly three months after receiving the "Maakav" investigation, Asraf Mizrahi chose to respond with a message that raises eyebrows: "As you can see, none of the major channels touched this. Interesting why. According to what I checked, it's not criminal, disgusting, maybe provocative, where would you see this developing now". This statement, indicating a journalistic examination that concluded there is nothing criminal in the matter, raises a fundamental question: since when do reporters become judges who determine what is criminal and what is not?
The connection between Kan 11 and Medalie, whose works are broadcast on the channel through Irvision company, adds a dimension of complexity and raises questions regarding the possible existence of a conflict of interest. But the true hypocrisy is revealed precisely when examining the conduct of that same editorial staff in similar cases. At the end of December 2024, "Kan 11" published in the program "Yihye Tov" a report with the headline "T. from the Eyal Golan Case Reveals Everything with Face Uncovered", a report that shocked the nation. The interesting detail: the report was published after the Prosecution and Israel Police closed the files against Golan, without indictment. If there is no criminal offense, why did they publish? Where is the journalistic examination that determines there is nothing criminal in the matter?
Precisely that same reporter, Dorit Asraf, published on January 16, 2025, a follow-up report on the Golan case. In the report, the journalist documented how Zmolutsky and the Association of Sexual Assault Support Centers sent a letter to media outlets, calling to stop the entertainment coverage of Golan. She also showed how organizations and local authorities began canceling his performances one after another. However, at no stage in the report was it mentioned that according to official examinations by authorized entities in the state, no criminal offense was found in Golan's actions toward Ms. T., that is, regarding the claims of Ms. Taisiya Zmolutsky (T.). This omission raises a fundamental question: was the information not included because it would have undermined the foundations of the report and weakened the entire item?
In the Medalie case, where a civil lawsuit was filed in court claiming sexual exploitation, date rape drug, and severe harm to a young man, and the court has not yet ruled, the reporter decides on her own that there is nothing criminal in the matter. The difference between the two cases is fundamental: in the Golan case, the files were closed, and yet they published extensively. In the Medalie case, the lawsuit is being conducted in court, and despite this, the reporter claims that according to her examination there is nothing criminal.
The sharp gap between the way the two cases were handled raises pointed questions regarding the existence of a double standard. While in cases where women raise allegations of abuse, extensive reports are published even in the absence of an indictment, and even when the files were closed by police after thorough examination, and in those cases heavy media pressure was applied to the police, to the point that the very closure of the file required meticulous and strict clarification, since any error would invite a public attack on enforcement authorities – here an excessive caution is noticeable, almost strange, which does not match the accepted media threshold. When a man complains of sexual exploitation and harm through a date rape drug, allegedly the reporter decides that everything is fine. The message: sexual assault on men is less legitimate? Or perhaps the connection between the channel and Medalie affects the journalistic decision? Or perhaps the flattering and complimentary reports published about Doron Medalie created a misleading representation, which actually undermined the full picture, and thus gave a platform to a person whose behavior is allegedly serious and cruel?
"Kan 11" reporter Itay Shikman contacted attorney Yehoshua Rubin, who represents the plaintiff in the lawsuit against Medalie, and requested to interview him. The "Maakav" editorial staff received the impression that they are trying to write an unfair report toward the plaintiff. The reporter was impatient and did not want to hear that the plaintiff is in psychological distress and in a difficult condition, while he urgently pressed to meet the plaintiff, this after his colleague the reporter had already declared that Medalie's actions are proper in her opinion.
A source on behalf of "Kan 11" informed the "Maakav" editorial staff that according to his claim, the channel seeks to "whitewash" Doron Medalie's name, and that its support for him is clear and unequivocal. According to him, the channel's management apparently aspires to produce a report that will present Medalie in a positive light, and this despite the fact that the lawsuit paints a picture of severe sexual exploitation toward the plaintiff. According to the same source, this can explain the gap in coverage: while major media outlets have already published the details of the case, "Kan 11" channel has so far refrained from any public reference to the subject. The source further added that according to his claim, the reason for the coverage failure stems from the fact that this is Medalie's "home channel", whose songs are frequently played on Channel B, and that an informal decision was allegedly made there to preserve the artist's image. It should be noted that the statements are brought as they were conveyed by the source only.
Thus, Asraf Mizrahi's claim that none of the major channels reported on the case turns out to be completely baseless. Channel 15 and Channel 13 have already published reports on the subject, in fact, on November 26, a detailed interview with the plaintiff and a comprehensive report were broadcast on the program "HaTzinor" (Reshet). Moreover, all major media outlets – Walla, Israel Hayom, ICE, TV-GRAM, "Erev Tov with Guy Pines" (Keshet), Maariv and others – have already covered the case extensively.
Attorney Yehoshua Rubin sent a letter to the "Kan 11" editorial staff and reporter Shikman, in which he warns against a biased report. The letter stated that inaccurate and blurred information was transferred to the editorial staff, raising concern that it is relying on erroneous or partial information, including internal statements that even a major advisor does not touch the case and hints that it is not criminal or a provocation. Rubin emphasized that this information is incorrect and does not match the facts.
It was further claimed in the letter that the editorial staff has, allegedly, some kind of connections with Doron Medalie, a situation liable to raise concern of conflict of interest and affect the way the report is presented. Attorney Rubin noted that the editorial staff tried to contact the plaintiff with the purpose of conducting an interview with him, a move which according to him could have placed him in a sensitive and fragile position. He warned that if the report that will be published is biased or presents the facts in a way that does not match reality, the letter will be published in full to ensure balance and transparency.
Despite Attorney Rubin's official appeal, the "Maakav" editorial staff contacted "Kan 11" spokesperson in a journalistic manner with a request to receive the channel's response regarding Ms. Asraf and Mr. Shikman – but the channel did not bother to respond. This despite the fact that this is a public state channel budgeted with nearly a billion shekels from public funds, and which maintains an organized spokesperson system budgeted and also paid from the public.
The case raises fundamental questions about journalistic ethics, conflict of interest, and double standards in public broadcasting. The message to the public must be sharp and clear: rape is rape, harassment is harassment, sexual exploitation is sexual exploitation, and administering a date rape drug is administering a date rape drug, without any connection to the social status of the perpetrator or the victim. Sexual relations must be conducted with free and clear consent, and within the law. These things are said in a general manner, and are not directed at a specific person. When it comes to public media, the expectation for equal and objective treatment in every case is even higher.
The "Maakav" editorial staff declares that it will continue to provide support to the plaintiff until he receives legal status in Israel and until the end of the legal proceedings with Doron Medalie, and will continue to monitor the media's conduct in this case.
The article features images from Eyal Golan's Instagram account (Eyal Golan), Kan 11 channel, Channel 13, as well as screenshots from the private WhatsApp messages of the Kan 11 reporter – use in accordance with the permit established in Section 27a.
