Far-right minister criticizes journalist for ‘whining’ about threats of violence

Far-right Heritage Minister Amichay Eliyahu has refused to condemn attacks on journalists after a death threat was spray-painted outside the offices of the Channel 13 news network and a reporter for another network was harassed and threatened.

Instead, Eliyahu on Thursday criticized the Channel 12 reporter, Guy Peleg, for “whining” about it.

The graffiti outside the Tel Aviv offices of Channel 13, which is often critical of the government, read, “The blood of the traitors will be cleared for publication,” the latter part paraphrasing a term generally used by the IDF when it announces the deaths of soldiers.

Peleg, of Channel 12, has come under fire from the right over his airing of leaked footage from the Sde Teiman detention facility last year ostensibly depicting soldiers’ alleged abuse of a detainee from Gaza.

Last week, according to Channel 12, right-wing activists attacked Peleg, threatened him and blocked his car as he tried to get away. Several police officers arrived on the scene to escort him, the network said. In footage published on social media, activist Mordechai David could be seen standing in front of Peleg’s car, with another leaning against the hood, as the reporter sat in the driver’s seat.

When asked by Kan news if he condemned the threats against journalists, Eliyahu instead took aim at Peleg.

“I want to condemn Guy Peleg and his whining,” Eliyahu said in the radio interview.

After the Sde Teiman video leaked last year, several soldiers were detained for questioning over the incident. That prompted a right-wing riot at the base, during which a few far-right lawmakers, including Eliyahu, broke into its grounds.

Peleg has now come under renewed attack following the revelation that the video was leaked by the former military advocate general, Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, leading to her investigation by police as well as fresh accusations that the video was inauthentic — though there has been little evidence to support that claim.

Speaking to Kan, Eliyahu appeared to dismiss the threats against Peleg.

“So they’re harassing him,” Eliyahu continued, alleging that Peleg had himself contributed to the harassment of public officials and right-wing journalists. He suggested that the harassment should be viewed as legitimate public protest.

Presumably referring to the video affair, Eliyahu added, “He tarnished IDF soldiers and the State of Israel around the world.”

“There can be no effective protest without disturbing the public order,” said the minister, paraphrasing remarks made by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara in 2023 in allowing the anti-government protest movement to block roads among other moves.

“He could ask for forgiveness from all the people of Israel, and I assume then they’ll stop,” Eliyahu said of Peleg.

Eliyahu is no stranger to inflammatory remarks, having once suggested Israel use a nuclear weapon on Gaza. He has also called for starving Gazans and wiping out the territory.

The Israel Press Council condemned his remarks and said it was considering legal action against those who threaten or attack journalists.

“We view with great concern the increasing physical and verbal attacks, threats and intimidation against publications and journalists in Israel, which Minister Amichay Eliyahu has amplified,” the group said in a statement.

Following the graffiti incident at Channel 13, the Israeli TV Channels Forum, an umbrella group representing Channel 12, Channel 13 and Kan, called the vandalism “a product of persistent, organized and dangerous incitement against journalists and against free media bodies in Israel.”

Noting a recent escalation in threats on journalists, the group said the incident joins “sweeping, increasingly powerful developments whose aim is to undermine media independence, close broadcasting agencies and ultimately limit the freedom of press and expression.”

When asked whether he was endorsing the threats against Peleg and other journalists, Eliyahu did not rule it out.

“The media should not think of itself as a protected flower here in Israel,” he said.

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On Wednesday night, Channel 12 aired another commentary on the threats facing journalists — and the government’s perceived indifference to the danger.

In a sketch on the network’s “Eretz Nehederet” satire show, actors impersonated government figures reacting to the fictional murder of a journalist by declaring a national yom aval, Hebrew for “a day of but” and a play on the phrase yom evel, or day of mourning.

The sketch proceeded to show fictional versions of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other ministers condemning the murder — then saying “but…” and complaining about times they’ve faced criticism.