Channel 14 Host Yinnon Magal Ordered to Pay 7,500 Shekels to Channel 12 Journalist Guy Peleg

A Jerusalem court has ruled in favor of Channel 12 journalist Guy Peleg in a libel suit against Channel 14 host Yinnon Magal. Peleg had sued Magal for 160,000 shekels, alleging that Magal made false and damaging statements about him on air in August 2025. Specifically, Magal claimed Peleg had not served in the IDF and was discharged after only two days.

Peleg countered that these claims were untrue and harmful, stating he completed full regular service and served 16 years in reserves, despite a chronic illness. The court, presided over by Judge Roei Shahar, determined that Magal's statements were presented as fact, not opinion, and were factually incorrect. The judge found that Magal's remarks portrayed Peleg as a draft dodger, harming his reputation, and noted that the facts were not properly verified before broadcast.

However, the court awarded Peleg only 7,500 shekels in damages, with no additional court costs. The lawsuit against Channel 14 itself was dismissed, as the court reasoned the live broadcast format meant the station's management could not have anticipated Magal's remarks. The relatively low compensation, significantly less than the initial 160,000 shekel claim and a prior 50,000 shekel demand letter, was partly attributed to Magal issuing a clarification and correction on air shortly after the incident.