Channel 14 Host Apologizes to Bibas Family for On-Air Remarks
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Channel 14 host Yinon Magal released a video apologizing to the Bibas family for remarks made on his show, admitting his words caused hurt. He met with relatives of Shiri Bibas, claiming his comments were taken out of context amid a smear campaign against him. Magal expressed deep regret and apologized for the pain caused, stating his original intent was not to harm the families. The apology follows a warning letter from journalist Ronen Bergman regarding a separate broadcast issue.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Channel 14 host Yinon Magal apologized to the Bibas family for on-air remarks.
- Magal met with relatives of Shiri Bibas to offer his apology.
- He claimed his words were taken out of context amid a smear campaign.
- Magal expressed deep regret and acknowledged causing pain to the families.
- Journalist Ronen Bergman had previously sent Magal a legal warning letter.
- The apology comes amid a reported smear campaign against Magal.
Yinon Magal, host of Channel 14's program 'HaPatriotim,' released a video on Friday apologizing to the family of Shiri Bibas for remarks made on air. Magal met with Shiri Bibas's uncle, Mauricio, and cousin, Gimi, acknowledging that his words had hurt the family and others, though he claimed they were taken out of context amid a smear campaign against him.
"Thank you for coming, and I am very happy you came and asked to meet, because I didn't know what to do," Magal stated in the video. "I entered a situation I didn't intend, didn't plan, and didn't want, and I simply got into a loop, and it turned out very badly and I hurt a lot of people."
He expressed deep regret for the pain caused to the families, asking them to convey his apology to Yarden, Ofri, and the entire family. Magal explained that his original comments were about a campaign against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and were not intended to target the Bibas families. He stated that his words were taken out of context during the broadcast and focused on the families, leading to the negative publicity.
Magal emphasized his understanding of the immense tragedy and pain experienced by the families, having interviewed many such families over the years. He admitted a mistake in not clarifying his position immediately after the broadcast, noting that his subsequent clarification that he was excluding the families from his remarks did not receive sufficient media attention.
On X, formerly Twitter, Magal posted the video, writing that a smear campaign had distorted his words. He acknowledged that his statements caused harm and expressed gratitude for the meeting with the Bibas relatives, describing it as a "long, painful, and good meeting" where he apologized to them and the affected families.
Separately, journalist Ronen Bergman had sent Magal a sharp warning letter a week prior, demanding specific actions within seven days to avoid legal proceedings. Bergman's letter concerned an item broadcast on 'HaPatriotim' in which Magal allegedly presented Bergman as having revealed details of 'Operation Beepers' before its execution.
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