From the Liveblog of
Friday, July 3, 2026
Two arrested for allegedly attacking Democrats activists in south Tel Aviv
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GooglePolice arrest two people for allegedly attacking activists with the left-leaning Democrats party in south Tel Aviv’s Hatikva Market, according to a police statement and footage from the scene.
The footage shows a man cursing at the activists, kicking away their equipment and hitting one of them.
The activists included Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Chen Arieli, who is the chair of Israeli Gay Youth and a candidate in the Democrats’ July 20 primary.
תסתכלו על הסרטון הזה ועל האלימות שספגנו ברגעים אלה כשהגעתי עם פעילי הדמוקרטים הצעירים לשוק התקווה לדבר באופן פתוח וכנה גם עם מי שלא בהכרח מסכים איתנו. זאת התוצאה של שלטון נתניהו שמפלג וזורע שנאה בתוך העם. שמעדיף את הכסא שלו ומפעיל שטיפות מוח עד כדי שאנחנו לא מצליחים לפגוש אפילו… pic.twitter.com/LkNO3lbPB3
— Chen Arieli חן אריאלי (@ArieliChen) July 3, 2026
Arieli writes on X that she and the other activists were there “when I came with young Democrats activists to Hatikva Market to speak openly and honestly, including with people who don’t necessarily agree with us.”
She blames the attack on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, which “divides and sows hate in the nation” and “employs brainwashing to the point we can’t even meet up to chat on a Friday afternoon.”
“We were hit and spat at, but that won’t quench the hope that we have to fight for,” she says.
The Times of Israel Community.