Erel Segal and Stav Shaffir
Photos: Channel 20, Yaron Brener
Channel 20 under inquiry over offensive impersonation of MK Stav Shaffir
Panelists on Judaism and Heritage Channel mock Zionist Union MK after she said she enjoys riding a bicycle, as panel host Erel Segal dons a red-haired wig and says 'I want to be free and ride a bicycle without a seat'; Shaffir: 'This is sexual harassment.'
An offensive impersonation of Zionist Union MK Staf Shaffir on Channel 20 has sparked uproar in the Knesset on Wednesday.
The panel also included Shimon Riklin, a writer, right-wing activist and archeologist; former Likud MK Inbal Gavrieli; and Attorney Ari Shamai.
TV presenter and journalist Erel Segal donned a red-haired wig during a segment on the Heritage Channel's "The Patriots" show, saying: "I want to be free and ride a bicycle without a seat."
The impersonation came after Shaffir wrote an article in which she mentioned that one of the things that made her happy was riding a bicycle.
With his co-panelist roaring with laughter, Segal added, "I'm Stav, I'm a redhead, I'm a pretty woman" in a mocking tone.
Erel Segal's impersonation of Shaffir (Photo: Channel 20)
Shamai chimed in with: "If Stav Shaffir enjoys riding a bicycle, what does MK Ayelet Nahmias-Verbin enjoy?"
In response, Shaffir said that the impersonation constituted sexual harassment and that she will consider filing a complaint with the police.
"I was humiliated, but not just me," she told Yedioth Ahronoth. "They are trying to send a message to any young woman who is trying to make a difference. The times when women were humiliated and objectified to stop them from making a difference - have passed. This disgusting thing was broadcast under the guise of a 'current affairs show' on the 'Judaism and Heritage Channel' - a channel that has a public broadcasting license and is supposed to air shows about Judaism, but makes a mockery of the law. That's what the channel has to offer: A group of 40-plus year old men - married with children - who are laughing their heads off from jokes on the sexuality of female members of Knesset."
The Cable and Satellite Broadcasting Council launched an inquiry into the matter, and the channel could face disciplinary action.
Council chairwoman Dr. Yifat Ben Hai Segev said the segment constituted "a violation of the rules of ethics the channel is bound by. This is a degrading presentation of women, with sexual connections, done in a forum that is mostly male. The segment may have been intended as satire, but satire is not a license to degrade a woman and use swear words."
Meanwhile, MK Ksenia Svetlova filed a complaint against the channel, claiming it violated the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Law.
Zionist Union MK Stav Shaffir
Segal, on his part, said that he was trying to make fun of the article Shaffir wrote, but claimed he was talking in the masculine-form and did not mention Shaffir specifically. "I intentionally spoke in the masculine form. I didn't say anything about Shaffir, I was talking about myself. Will the council claim I was sexually harassing myself?"
However, a video of the segment clearly shows Segal was speaking in the feminine form, saying "I am Stav, I am a woman, I'm redheaded, take me seriously."
"I suspended myself from telling jokes for two hours," Segal said. "I wonder what happens when (satire show) Erez Nehedert presents Ayelet Shaked as a nymphomaniac, or when Amnon Abramovich says Bibi 'opened his legs.' Does that have sexual connotations or not? Just watch the segment itself, without any Chinese whispers. What's happening here is a real attempt to violate the freedom of expression, which is also meant to allow things being expressed in bad taste."
Panelist Ari Shamai refused to comment, while former Likud MK Inbal Gavrieli, who was also part of the panel, said: "This is an outrage. It's one thing to distort the facts and put words into Segal's mouth, and to be angry because we did some satire, but the real problem here is the left wing and the media's inability to view Channel 20 as a legitimate channel in Israeli television. There was no chauvinism, no sexual harassment, nothing beyond another attempt to gag those on Channel 20. And for the record, I've known Erel Segal for many years, and he is a gentleman who always respects women."
Channel 20 said in response: "It's sad to discover MK Shaffir did not dedicate three minutes to watching the item in question in full before firing poisonous arrows that are disconnected from reality. Erel was talking about himself and not about her, but the MK once again did not miss an opportunity to slam Channel 20. We have a hard time understanding the double standard and hypocrisy coming from an MK who, just a few weeks ago, was sitting in the Channel 10 studio and giggling at a segment in which (comedian) Tal Friedman was wearing a red-haired wig and accusing Shaffir of using drugs while throwing the photo of late prime minister Yitzhak Rabin to the trash."
