The reports in the international media testify to the petira of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who was niftar on Shabbos afternoon Parshas Beshalach 5774.
For Kol Chai Radio, that announcement came earlier. The chareidi radio station announced the prime minister’s petira on Thursday night, the eve of 9 Shevat 5774 at 21:36. It was about then that doctors at Tel Hashomer Hospital announced the former prime minister’s condition took another turn for the worse and he was reported in “grave condition”. Perhaps someone at Kol Chai did understand the report, broadcasting Sharon was niftar. A memorial posting was uploaded to the station’s website telling readers Sharon died at the age of 84. The error was detected not too long after and a clarification was broadcast on the radio and the erroneous message removed from the website.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
2 Responses
What do you expect from Tel Chai? They are not known for accuracy on any news event other than which rav might have travelled to which other rav on motzi Shabbos for a kumzitz..Its not rocket science to distinguish a hospital status report that a patient’s condition had deteriorated to an announcement that he was niftar. Maybe they were projecting the views of the editorial staff.
I guess they wanted to avoid chilul Shabbos