Israeli journalist for Iran TV freed to house arrest
Bassam al-Safadi, arrested last week, still under investigation for alleged incitement and supporting terror groups
Judah Ari Gross is The Times of Israel's religions and Diaspora affairs correspondent.
An Israeli journalist working for Iranian state TV was freed to house arrest Sunday, five days after he was arrested by Israel on terror charges.
Bassam al-Safadi, a Golan Heights based reporter for the al-Alam TV network, was arrested on Wednesday at his home for what police said was alleged incitement and supporting terror groups.
He was ordered him freed to house arrest Sunday by the Nazareth Magistrate’s Court.
Police say the investigation into the allegations are still ongoing.
Safadi, a 43-year-old resident of the Druze village of Majdal Shams, has been accused of “publishing statements in support of terror groups and incitement to violence or terror,” a police spokesperson said Wednesday.
On its website, the al-Alam news television channel claimed Safadi was arrested for “no reason,” saying it was likely linked to a report in which he alleged that Israel was “stealing” oil on the Golan Heights — a reference to Israeli exploratory drilling in the Israeli-controlled side of the plateau, which is captured from Syria during the 1967 Six Day War.
According to the Iranian outlet, which is funded by the state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting company, Safadi’s laptop and camera were also confiscated during his arrest on Wednesday morning.
Majdal Shams is one of the largest Druze communities in Israel. Though the town was formally annexed by Israel in the 1970s, many living there continue to support the Assad regime in Syria.
Many Majdal Shams residents have refused to accept Israeli citizenship; however, Safadi is not one of them, police said.
In 2009, two other reporters for al-Alam were arrested by Israel. Reporter Khodr Shahine and his assistant, Mohammed Sarhan, were sentenced to two months in prison for publishing information about troop movements during a 2008-2009 military operation in Gaza that had been censored by the Israel Defense Forces.
Last Wednesday, Safadi was brought before a Nazareth District Court, where it was decided that he would remain in police custody until Sunday.
Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.
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