Respected shomer shabbat journalist Chaggai Huberman, who was employed by the daily HaMevaser, was dismissed on Sunday afternoon according to a Kikar Shabbat report. In HaMevaser, he wrote under the assumed name of Chet Ben-Ephraim.

Kikar quotes Huberman as saying that he did not expect to be fired, with HaMevaser officials stating they are not at all displeased with his journalistic skills or performance, but were compelled to fire him due to “pressure exerted” towards his dismissal. It appears the dismissal is linked to his views, at times expressed outside of the office, but the straw that broke the camel’s back pertains to opinions addressing Deputy Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman and his performance vis-à-vis the kevarim and Barzilai Hospital.

Huberman is not without a source of income, writing for the weekly B’Sheva and other forums, but admits without HaMevaser he is searching for another source of income.

Kikar adds that Alex Fishman, the night editor, was also fired. The two have not yet been replaced.

Kikar concludes quoting a “HaMevaser source” as blaming economic realities for their dismissal, nothing more”.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)