A high-profile media dispute has reached the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court, following a libel lawsuit filed by Channel 12 commentator Guy Peleg against Channel 14 presenter Yinon Magal. The proceedings stem from remarks made by Magal during a live broadcast in August 2025, where he claimed that Peleg "never served in the military" and "was discharged after two days. " As presented in court, these claims were proven inaccurate, as Peleg completed full military service, including regular and reserve duty spanning approximately 16 years, despite suffering from a chronic medical condition.
Judge Roi Shahar upheld Peleg's claims, ruling that the statements did not constitute protected "expression of opinion" but were instead the presentation of false and misleading facts. According to the court, the intent was to personally harm Peleg and portray him as someone who deserted or evaded his national security duties. The verdict also noted that Magal acted in bad faith by failing to perform basic factual verification before airing the comments. However, the judge dismissed the claim against Channel 14, accepting the network's argument that since the broadcast was live, it was impossible to foresee or prevent the presenter's remarks.
Regarding financial compensation, Peleg did not receive the full amount requested, which stood at 160,000 NIS. The judge awarded a relatively symbolic compensation of 7,500 NIS, with no order for legal costs. The court's reasoning for the low amount stemmed from the fact that Magal published an apology and a correction on air a few days after the original broadcast. Additionally, the judge noted the substantial gap between the official claim amount and the initial demand Peleg made in a pre-litigation letter, which was only 50,000 NIS.
The verdict highlights the delicate balance between freedom of expression in live broadcasts and the duty of care presenters have to verify facts before airing them. The case illustrates the legal consequences of incorrect factual publications while emphasizing that timely corrections can significantly impact the amount of damages awarded in defamation cases.