Channel 12 Under Fire for Leaking Sensitive PM Netanyahu Travel Details

Channel 14's "Israel Hayom" program fiercely criticized Channel 12's news division for broadcasting details of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's secret visit to the UAE while his plane was still airborne. Host Tal Meir and panelists argued that the decision to bypass military censorship and reveal classified information endangered national security and the individuals on board, including Netanyahu, his wife, the Mossad chief, and the military secretary.

Political correspondent Moti Castel highlighted a pattern of leaks from Channel 12 throughout the ongoing war, some of which he claimed provided Hamas with intelligence on Israeli operations and personnel. He called for an end to reporting that compromises state security, noting that Netanyahu had previously requested an investigation into such leaks.

Panelists expressed skepticism that the current complaint, filed by the Shin Bet and supported by the Mossad, would lead to significant changes, referencing past instances where legislative initiatives aimed at preventing leaks were allegedly stalled. They emphasized that the information was broadcast despite explicit censorship orders, with Channel 12 reportedly justifying the decision by deeming the event political rather than security-related.

Activist Simone Grafman asserted that some media outlets are willing to take extreme measures to undermine the elected government, even risking the Prime Minister's life and exposing sensitive data to adversaries. Attorney Dana Yaffe questioned the lack of stringent investigations into such offenses, recalling past security breaches linked to pre-attack broadcasts. Attorney Efraim Demari concluded that ignoring censorship orders has become a pattern, prioritizing political agendas over democratic principles and national interests, and urged the public to exercise media discernment and public officials to take a firm stance against media outlets harming national security.