Channel 12 drew heavy criticism after posting a report about ministers' absence from the funeral of Lt. Col. Dor Ben Simchon, who was killed in action. The report said that no government representative came to the funeral and contrasted that with photos of ministers and cabinet members at a wedding the previous day.
Soon after, it emerged that Ben Simchon's family had asked in advance that no government delegation attend the funeral. Minister Amichai Chikli said he and Minister Ofir Sofer had wanted to attend but were refused out of respect for the family's wishes. Chikli wrote, "The family asked that there be no government representation, that is their full right and of course we respect it." He added that the tragedy occurred "on the night between Thursday and Friday, around 00:30, long after the wedding where the ministers were present."
Chikli sharply attacked the broadcast, saying, "This is not journalism, this is outright incitement on the backs of IDF fallen soldiers and bereaved families." Education Minister Yoav Kisch also criticized the network, calling Channel 12 "a propaganda channel in the service of the left-wing opposition" that uses soldiers and bereaved families cynically for a political agenda.
After the backlash, the posts were removed from Channel 12's social media accounts. However, reporter Michal Pelegan left up a separate post referring to another cabinet-related report and wrote, "the ministers who did not come today to the funeral of Lt. Col. Dor Ben Simchon." She also faced criticism for remarks during a live broadcast, in which she attacked the government in harsh terms.
