Editor fired at ORF after controversial post about Israel sparks widespread outrage
A post on social media written by one of the ORF editors sparked widespread outrage and ultimately led to the termination of his contract. The editor worked on the Am Schauplatz program and wrote a comment regarding Israel that said: "If you have been a victim for 2000 years, I should start thinking about why that is."
The comment has been widely condemned as anti-Semitic. ORF issued a statement describing the post as "completely unacceptable," confirming that it has reviewed disciplinary procedures. In a subsequent press release, the organization announced that ORF and the editor had agreed to terminate his employment contract. General Director Roland Weissmann publicly apologized, affirming that the organization rejects such statements.
The editor himself expressed his regret, saying: "I feel deep remorse for writing a sentence that contradicts everything I have defended throughout my personal and professional life."
According to the ORF code of conduct, employees must adhere to the organization's core values of objectivity, neutrality, and independence – even in their personal posts on social media. The code warns that violations may lead to professional or even legal consequences.
The reaction of the Israeli religious community (IKG) was strong. Its president, Oskar Deutsch, welcomed the decision but called for stricter measures to ensure that ORF journalists remain objective and refrain from publishing anti-Semitic stereotypes.
Other Jewish communities, including in Salzburg, Styria, and Carinthia, participated in the criticism. Eli Rosen, the head of the Jewish community in Salzburg, said: "This statement crossed a red line. It is a classic anti-Semitic reflection between the perpetrator and the victim, mocking the victims and legitimizing anti-Semitism."