Communications minister’s chief of staff reprimanded, penalized for assaulting journalist

The Civil Service Disciplinary Court reprimands Elad Zamir, chief of staff to Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, and downgrades his rank and salary for six months, for assaulting Shabi Gatenio, a journalist from the Seventh Eye outlet, the Walla news site reports.

On January 15, Gatenio tried to ask Karhi a question while filming him with his camera, following a Knesset committee meeting.

Zamir admitted in a plea agreement to having confronted Gatenio, called him “an insolent idiot,” and then having snatched Gatenio’s phone and slammed it onto a table while repeating his slurs and insults against the reporter.

The entire incident was filmed by Gatenio on his phone.

The court rules that Zamir harmed the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press, and that his behavior was unbecoming of a senior civil servant, such as a minister’s chief of staff.

In response to the ruling, Karhi voices support for Zamir and says he wishes every elected official had such a dedicated adviser.