Yoram Sheftel
Yoram SheftelFlash90

Israel's Second Television and Radio Authority, the public authority which supervises commercial broadcasting in Israel, levied a 120,000 shekel fine on the 103FM radio station, following a series of inflammatory remarks by Elor Azariya's attorney Yoram Sheftel on his program, 'Angry Sheftel.'

The Authority listed six different statements that it found problematic, and slapped a 20,000 shekel fine on the station for each one.

"Attorney Sheftel denigrates and slanders various groups, including his audience, and that constitutes violations of the provisions set out above. They do not meet the minimum level of discourse that one hosting a radio show must ascribe to" read the accompanying letter.

The report made it clear that the fine was for things Sheftel said back in 2016, and not for the controversial statements Sheftel recently made about IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot.

Sheftel, who joined the Azariya defense team following the soldier's conviction in January, had taken aim at Eizenkot this past Monday, decrying his handling of the Azariya case and ridiculing his weight. “He looks like a municipal clerk,” said Sheftel. “Anyone as overweight as the Chief of Staff does not project the image of a soldier."

Sheftel was forced to apologize for his remarks belittling Eizenkot, saying in a statement that "I take back what I said about the Chief of Staff. I meant to criticize him for the recent events on the Temple Mount. I do not find it acceptable to criticize his weight, and I apologize."

The left-wing Meretz party filed an appeal to that Supreme Court Monday, demanding that Sheftel's show be taken off the air due to a number of statements the party contended amounted to incitement, such as calling party leader MK Zehava Gal-on "The spokesperson for Hamas."

Sheftel defended his radio show Thursday during a raucous debate with former Meretz MK Mossi Raz on the Sharon Gal Show.

"I am proud to be the only person in the media who has dedicated himself to exposing the horrible crimes of the left, which have been taking place for 100 years," he said. "That is what sets off the left -that everything I say is supported by historical facts."

"I'm proud of presenting the left as the criminals they are."