Channel 12 Faces Backlash for Misusing Fallen Officer's Photo in Corruption Report

During a broadcast of Channel 14's "Israel Morning," presenter Oded Menashe addressed criticism directed at his channel after mistakenly showing a photo of a different woman as a former bomb squad member. Menashe emphasized that Channel 14 apologized for the error and noted that some claimed such mistakes only happen at Channel 14, not at other media outlets.

Shortly after, Channel 12 aired an investigative report on alleged corrupt jobs at the Jewish National Fund (KKL), during which they mistakenly used a photo of Eli Alikshvili, a late Border Police officer who died in a traffic accident, instead of Shahar Maimon, a person mentioned in the report. This error falsely linked Alikshvili to the corruption case, despite him having no connection to KKL or the scandal.

Alikshvili's mother, Leah, expressed deep pain over the misuse of her son's image in such a negative context, stating that the damage was already done. Menashe criticized Channel 12 for not issuing an apology at the time of the broadcast, contrasting it with Channel 14's prompt apology for their own mistake.

Panelist Maxim Okunin condemned any schadenfreude among media professionals and urged swift correction and apology for errors, highlighting the sensitivity when a deceased person’s image is involved. Professor Asher Cohen also commented on the common issue where corrections are less visible than the original erroneous headlines, stressing the need for proper rectifications.

Menashe concluded by calling on Channel 12 to publish at least a brief apology, underscoring that all media outlets are prone to human error and should focus on correcting their own mistakes rather than attacking others. The incident illustrates the broader challenges of media accountability and the impact of misinformation on individuals and families.