News 12 journalist Yolan Cohen, 35, announced today (Thursday) that she and her husband, businessman Shai Ben-Maor, have become parents through a surrogacy procedure.
In a post that Cohen published on her social media, she revealed the difficult struggle of trying to conceive and the personal feelings she experienced along the way.
Among other things, she noted that she underwent medical treatment at Assuta Medical Center, "during the embryo affair - an omission that was too close.".
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She opened with the emotions that overwhelmed her in light of the return of the abductees from Gaza - and wrote: "A month of lives that returned and lives that were born, a month in which the families I love so much hugged their children again, and a whole nation that finally breathed again.".
She continued: "And with almost unbelievable timing - between pain and hope, even in my little home - life began anew. After years of attempts, disappointments, successes and treatments at Assuta (in the midst of the embryo affair - a failure that was too close), our sweet daughter finally arrived.".
She later thanked the surrogate scout who carried the baby in her womb: "And this whole miracle came thanks to Scout, our amazing surrogate, who is actually an angel.".
She added and wrote: "So this month I received a new life and very soon a little someone will finally call me 'Mom' (I assume she'll say 'Dad' first, but we're not petty).".
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara sent a public and filmed Mazal Tov greeting. The two appeared together in a greeting video, and Netanyahu surprised by jokingly saying: "Isn't Yolan the one I yelled at?""
""Isn't Yolan the one I yelled at?": Prime Minister Netanyahu and his wife Sara congratulate News 12 reporter Yolan Cohen and her husband Shai on the birth of their first daughter, who was born through surrogacy after many attempts pic.twitter.com/MuOW9Bgs6m
— Gil Mishali (@gilmishali) October 23, 2025
Netanyahu addressed everything at a press conference when he answered Cohen's question about the war - and sharply attacked her: "You keep spreading lies, that there was a deal, that I was the one who stopped it. Those who spread this are political opponents. All these people are not exactly Likud supporters or 'Bibists', and you spread this lie and hurt families. There is no limit to your lies, it is difficult for you to hear the truth because you are unable to spread it.".
