Israeli television host Eyal Berkovic was suspended after questioning the medical credentials of Michigan Democratic Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed during an on-air discussion. Channel 13 removed the presenter from broadcasting on November 8th after reviewing remarks from the previous evening’s program. The network accused him of making racist statements, with the exchange also drawing in an Arab member of Israel’s parliament.
The discussion took place on “Moria and Berko,” which Berkovic hosts alongside Moriah Asraf. Political reporter Suleiman Maswadeh was discussing El-Sayed, who had won Michigan’s Senate race in the November midterm elections. The incoming senator has criticized Israel and American support for the country, positions that have put him at odds with other Democrats, including his former primary opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens.
Maswadeh referred to El-Sayed as a doctor while introducing him to viewers, prompting Berkovic to challenge whether the title had been checked. Asraf confirmed that El-Sayed held the qualification. Berkovic then shifted the discussion to Ahmad Tibi, an Arab Israeli lawmaker serving in the Knesset, and questioned whether his medical credentials should also be accepted without seeing documentation.
As Mediaite reported, Berkovic asked: “They give everyone there the title of doctor; did you check whether he’s a doctor?” El-Sayed earned his medical degree at Columbia University. He also holds a doctorate in public health from Oxford University, with his professional background including work in epidemiology.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Berkovic continued by saying: “They also say Ahmad Tibi is a doctor. So they say. Let him bring his diploma.” Tibi is a trained gynecologist. The exchange drew public criticism from Israeli journalists, including Barak Ravid, who condemned the remarks in posts on social media.
According to Israel National News, which reported additional details of the conversation, Maswadeh responded that Tibi was a physician by training and told Berkovic he had moved the discussion onto an unrelated subject. Berkovic continued joking about the title and brought his co-host into the exchange. “Everyone’s a doctor. Moriah is a doctor too,” he said.
Channel 13 subsequently held a meeting with Berkovic concerning the broadcast, according to the statement carried by The Jerusalem Post. The company said freedom of expression and differing opinions were foundational to a free press, while rejecting their use as justification for racist remarks. It described the statements on the program as “unacceptable” and said the meeting ended with a decision to suspend Berkovic immediately.
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Watch the broadcast exchange shared on X here:
https://t.co/xbXp1o1ST6
— Yosef Yisrael (@yosefyisrael25) November 7, 2026
The suspension followed another dispute involving Berkovic and fellow Channel 13 presenter Lucy Aharish. The Times of Israel reported that he had told her: “Calm down, you’re not in the village here.” Aharish demanded an apology. Berkovic acknowledged that the comment was incorrect but rejected accusations that he was expressing prejudice against Arabs.
Tibi also took action following the discussion of his credentials, sending a letter through attorney Gilad Barnea to Berkovic and Asraf on November 8th. According to The Times of Israel, the letter demanded 150,000 shekels in compensation over their remarks. Tibi said he would donate the money to educational scholarships and threatened legal action if the demand was not met.
Featured image credit: screengrab from the embedded video.