Bennett: Netanyahu government encouraging harassment of critics, in attack on democracy

Right-wing provocateur Mordechai David’s harassment of Arab Israeli news anchor Lucy Aharish on Sunday was an attack on Israeli democracy and is the fault of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, former prime minister Naftali Bennett declares.

“Sending paid thugs to Lucy Aharish’s private home to intimidate her and her family is a dangerous crossing of a red line. When this is done with the encouragement or the turning of a blind eye by government ministers, it is much more serious,” Bennett says in a statement.

“On the day when, God forbid, journalists walk around in fear of criticizing the government, we will cease to be a democratic state. We will also cease to be a Jewish state, because the foundation of Jewish heritage is liberty, free criticism, and checks on absolute power,” he continues, asserting that while harsh media criticism is unpleasant, “it is the lifeblood of democracy.”

“We will not allow violence to silence the media,” Bennett adds.

David and Likud activist Rami Ben-Yehuda were detained for trespassing and disturbing the peace after entering Aharish’s Tel Aviv apartment complex with a megaphone.

David was also seen on Saturday night trying to block the paths of two other journalists, Shai Goldin and Raviv Druker, a noted critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

According to Channel 12, David claimed he was protesting Aharish due to recent statements she made on air for Channel 13, in which she pointed to the “righteous anger” of Arab Israelis due to the perceived government inaction over the crime wave that has ripped through the community in recent years.

David, who was convicted of attempted arson in 2021, is known for his political stunts, regularly blocking the cars of politicians, journalists and other figures he disagrees with, and harassing them.

He has received support from members of Netanyahu’s governing coalition. He has been hosted by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has authority over the police, and praised by other coalition politicians.