Lucy Aharish. Photo: i24 News.

Lucy Aharish

News anchor

When Lucy Aharish was 5 years old in Gaza, the family vehicle was attacked by a terrorist, who threw Molotov cocktails into and onto their car. Her cousin was severely injured; the event became a defining moment for Aharish.

She went on to become Israel’s first Arab presenter on prime-time television, and was among those in 2015 honored with lighting a torch at the national Independence Day ceremony on Mount Herzl, whose theme was “groundbreaking Israelis.”

Aharish is a “trailblazing Muslim journalist, who brings a discourse of tolerance and interdenominational openness to Israel’s public agenda,” wrote the Ministerial Committee for Symbols and Ceremonies headed by former cultural affairs minister Limor Livnat, explaining its choice of the media icon.

Recently, she has been criticized by some in the Arab community for her views. Aharish bravely responded that she is unafraid of any repercussions for having criticized the recent surge in Palestinian violence and Israeli-Arab leaders for remaining silent about it.