Top Israeli Media Feuds of 2026 Revealed
The year 2026 saw a series of high-profile disputes and conflicts within Israel's entertainment and media industries, ranging from reality TV stars to legal battles and journalistic disagreements. These clashes captured significant public attention throughout the year.
A notable dispute involved entertainment reporter Eran Swissa and "Big Brother" winner Gal Rubin. Swissa published a critical opinion piece after Rubin's victory, questioning the format and her behavior. He then declared a boycott of any commercial entities working with Rubin, sparking debate about journalistic ethics. However, Swissa quickly reversed his boycott, reporting on Rubin's commercial collaborations just weeks later.
Singer Eyal Golan faced a defamation lawsuit against "Big Brother" contestant Tal Taito, filed in March 2026 over past social media posts referencing the "Mishakei Hachra" affair. After her eviction, Taito learned of the suit, took full responsibility, and posted a public apology video in July 2026, admitting her posts were baseless and apologizing to Golan and his children. Golan accepted the apology, dropped the NIS 200,000 lawsuit, and canceled the financial demand, emphasizing the importance of responsible online conduct.
Long-standing colleagues Ofira Assayag and Eyal Berkovich ended their 18-year professional and personal partnership in late 2023 due to disagreements over broadcasting during the Iron Swords War. Berkovich refused to participate in the war-themed broadcasts on Keshet 12, leading Assayag to continue with other hosts. A harsh text message from Berkovich prompted Assayag to block him on social media. This led to their separation, with Berkovich moving to Channel 13 and Assayag remaining at Keshet 12 with new partners. Despite a brief, seemingly friendly encounter in 2024, Assayag confirmed their professional partnership and close friendship had definitively ended.
Director and comedian Naor Zion engaged in a public feud with Channel 12 journalist Adva Dadon, escalating in June 2025 during a joint lecture. Zion interrupted Dadon, accusing her of manipulation and exploitation in her work with Rami Davidian, and threatened to expose her. The conflict intensified in July 2026 when Zion posted a harsh message threatening to release documentary segments about Dadon close to her wedding to disrupt her celebration.
Legal commentator Guy Peleg and right-wing activist Mordechai David were involved in a prolonged conflict involving public harassment and legal proceedings. David's repeated public tracking and blocking of Peleg's vehicle led to court orders. Initially a 2-meter exclusion zone in November 2025, a January 2026 ruling expanded it to 50 meters after David continued to provoke Peleg. Peleg escalated his rhetoric against David on his radio show in April 2026, and his lectures became heavily secured events.
Chef Moshik Roth was unexpectedly fired from the reality show "Mishachei Hashaf" on Channel 13 in July 2026 after 12 years, replaced by Yonatan Roshfeld. Roth discovered his termination through the media without prior discussion, causing anger among his associates who called the move "despicable." Blame was directed at Assaf Rappaport, a founder of Wiz and prospective owner of the channel, who was involved in the management changes. Rappaport attempted to mediate through a third party, but Roth refused any contact. The incident caused upheaval in the production and public criticism, with Roth's anger towards Rappaport remaining unresolved.
The rivalry between Amit Segal and Raviv Drucker, representing opposing journalistic and political viewpoints, continued throughout 2026. Segal, a right-leaning commentator for Channel 12, and Drucker, a left-leaning commentator for Channel 13, frequently clashed on social media and in opinion pieces regarding professional integrity and political coverage. They have exchanged criticisms over election polls, forecasts, and investigative reports for years, with no sign of reconciliation.
