The foreign news editor of the 13-year-old network, Gil Tamari, managed to provoke a storm when she broadcast last night (Monday) an article about the holiest city for Muslims – Mecca. Tamari, who filmed the article from within the city itself, despite the strict prohibition of the Muslim religion, according to which entry into the city is forbidden to non-Muslims.
Journey to Mecca: News 13 Messenger Documented from the Most Important City of Islam
For the full article – https://t.co/4bg1Mnsu0K@tamarygil pic.twitter.com/LSAbvq6EGI
– News 13 (@ newsisrael13) July 18, 2022
The storm soon erupted on social media, where much anger was expressed among Muslim users. For example, Muhammad Saud, a Saudi blogger known for his fondness for Israel, tweeted: “My dear friends in Israel, your reporter entered the holy city of Mecca, and photographed without shame, it’s like I would enter a synagogue and read Torah, Shame and Disgrace Channel 13, be ashamed to hurt religion Islam, you are rude. ”
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Another response came from media woman Carolyn Glick, who wrote against Tamari: “In one unnecessary article, Gil Tamari inflicted unnecessary but tremendous damage on Israel’s relations with the Saudis. A stupid reward who threw a stone at a well.”
My dear friends in Israel, your reporter entered the holy city of Mecca for Islam, and photographed without shame, it’s like I would enter the synagogue and read in Torah, Shame and Disgrace Channel 13, you will be ashamed to hurt the religion of Islam, you are rude @newsisrael13 pic.twitter.com/6ILhXjlJ4r
– Mohammad Saud Mohammed Saud (@ mosaud08) July 18, 2022
News 13 responded: “Foreign News editor Gil Tamari’s visit to Mecca is an important journalistic achievement, not intended in any way to hurt Muslims’ feelings. Of course if anyone feels hurt, we apologize for it. The press. I believe in journalism, it is based on getting everywhere and documenting things firsthand. These principles also guided us in this journalistic mission, which allowed many viewers an almost unmediated initial contact with this important place. In our view, knowing and recognizing an important place firsthand only contributes to increasing religious tolerance and discourse from learning and recognizing the beliefs of the other. “
Following the outrage, Gil Tamari tweeted his response: “I would like to emphasize that the visit to Mecca was not intended to offend Muslims or anyone else. If anyone was harmed by the article, I apologize deeply. The aim was to show the importance of Mecca and its beauty.”