Channel 14 Mistakenly Interviews Wrong Woman in Exclusive Investigation, Sparking Online Laughter
On Sunday evening, Israel's Channel 14 aired a teaser for an investigative report in which a reporter approached former Deputy State Attorney Yifat Tomer Yerushalmi to ask if her case was about to be closed. However, it quickly emerged that the woman interviewed was not Tomer Yerushalmi but a neighbor who closely resembled her. The channel's clip claimed Tomer Yerushalmi was "evading" the question after refusing to comment on a plea deal, but viewers and media figures soon noticed the error, leading to widespread ridicule on social media.
Journalist Ben Caspit from Maariv mocked the channel, noting they opened their broadcast with an "exclusive" about the former Deputy State Attorney not apologizing and walking her dog, only to reveal it was not her at all. Another journalist, Avishai Greenstein, expressed disbelief, emphasizing that the woman in the footage was not Tomer Yerushalmi and that the channel did not know who she was. Additional criticism came from Democratic Party member Moshe Redman Abutbul, who called the segment a few minutes of propaganda and said the mistake was unbelievable.
In response to inquiries from Kikar HaShabbat, Channel 14 stated the matter was under review. The incident highlights a significant blunder in live reporting and has become a viral moment of embarrassment for the channel.
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.