Israeli Anchor Apologizes After Omission of Politicians in War Report
An Israeli television anchor apologized after a news segment on bereaved Knesset members omitted politicians Moshe Feiglin and Bezalel Smotrich. The oversight sparked public backlash on social media.
A prominent Israeli television anchor has issued a public apology following widespread backlash over a news segment that omitted politicians who lost family members in the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. The broadcast, aired during a weekend news program, featured candidates for the incoming Knesset who experienced personal bereavement.
However, the report failed to include Moshe Feiglin, chairman of the Zehut party, whose grandson Staff Sergeant Yair Levin was killed during military operations in the southern Gaza Strip. Similarly, the segment did not mention Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who lost his cousin, Major (res.) Amichai Ben David, in combat in the same region.
The oversight triggered sharp criticism across social media platforms, with users accusing the network of selective editing and bias. In response to the public outcry, the anchor released an official statement acknowledging the mistake regarding Feiglin and expressing profound regret to the family.
Addressing other criticisms regarding individuals not included in the report, the anchor clarified that other figures mentioned by critics, such as Likud candidate Itzik Bonzel, were not part of the newly elected Knesset lineup highlighted in the segment, noting that the broadcast focused strictly on elected parliamentarians. The anchor concluded by emphasizing the deep pain of bereaved families and urging that the sacred nature of their sacrifice not be exploited for political friction.
