Communications Minister Slams Channel 12 Over Secret Netanyahu UAE Visit Report

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi fiercely criticized Channel 12 on Monday following the Shin Bet's filing of a complaint against the network. The complaint stems from Channel 12's report on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's secret visit to the United Arab Emirates, which the Shin Bet stated endangered Netanyahu and forces on the ground. Karhi asserted that the pursuit of a scoop cannot supersede national security, demanding the military censor investigate who authorized the publication. "The country's security is not a ratings game," Karhi stated, adding a jab at the channel's viewership numbers, which he noted are "already languishing in the single digits."

The Prime Minister's Office reported that the broadcast occurred at 9:38 PM, while Netanyahu's plane was still far from Israeli airspace, landing nearly 50 minutes later. The Shin Bet argued that the timing of the report, while the operation was ongoing, created a significant risk to the Prime Minister, the operation, and security personnel. The agency also claimed the report exposed security methods, potentially increasing risks for future operations.

Those potentially endangered by the publication, according to the Prime Minister's Office, included Netanyahu and his wife Sara, the heads of the Mossad and the National Security Council, the Military Secretary, the head of Shin Bet security, and the flight and security crews. The Mossad also deemed the leak a "severe security threat" that caused damage to national security.

This is not the first time Channel 12 has faced scrutiny over sensitive security information. In March, the channel was suspected of leaking the timing of an Israeli attack in Iran, with preparations for a special broadcast made just as the operation began. Defense Minister Israel Katz later confirmed an investigation into the suspected leak, which Prime Minister Netanyahu stated could have compromised the operation's surprise element.