Veteran journalist who switched from left to right fired
Benny Zipper, former culture editor of Haaretz, was dismissed after decades at the paper. He described the firing as part of periodic waves of layoffs. Zipper also reported negative reactions from colleagues after his rapprochement with Netanyahu, including caustic remarks and obscene comments about Sara Netanyahu made in his wife's presence.
Benny Zipper, former culture editor of Haaretz, was dismissed after several decades at the publication. He recounted this on the radio station Galei Israel. Zipper called the dismissal part of an internal process that periodically occurs at the paper: every few years there is a wave of layoffs and firings, and this time it affected him. He noted receiving "amazing and very warm responses," which he considers a sign of a job well done, though he does not see it as fair. During the interview, the journalist was asked whether he noticed changes in colleagues' attitudes after he publicly spoke about his close ties with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara. Zipper admitted that after his political shift, he faced negative reactions: some colleagues made caustic comments about him. He recalled an episode when, in the presence of his wife, comments were thrown at him from the room, including obscene remarks about Sara Netanyahu. His wife was shocked that he tolerated it, to which Zipper replied that he was used to it. Earlier, Kursor reported that Oren Dobronski responded to critics for the first time.