Kan retracts claim that millionth vaccinee served time for murder, apologizes

The Kan broadcaster has retracted its claim and apologized for alleging on Sunday that the man highlighted as the millionth Israeli to receive the coronavirus vaccine, who was given his inoculation last week with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu standing alongside, served time for murder.

The Times of Israel also apologizes for citing the Kan claims in earlier versions of its article on the incident.

Muhammad Abd al-Wahhab Jabarin, 66, who got his shot on Friday, as Netanyahu was visiting a vaccination center in the Arab town of Umm al-Fahm, served 14 years for robbery and weapons charges before his release in 1992.

Kan initially reported Sunday that Jabarin had been jailed for murder, and later said he had served time for manslaughter. On Monday, Kan retracted (Hebrew link) and apologized for its reports, saying they were erroneous.

Jabarin on Sunday acknowledged the lengthy jail term, but denied the reports of more serious crimes. “It’s a lie that I did time for murder. I was jailed for robbery, and for [charges related to] weapons,” he told Kan.