From the Liveblog of
Monday, December 9, 2024
Union of Journalists condemns Netanyahu for ‘incitement’ against reporters
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
The Union of Journalists in Israel denounces Benjamin Netanyahu’s rhetoric about the media after the prime minister accused reporters of spreading lies about him during a press conference in Jerusalem.
“The Union of Journalists strongly condemns Prime Minister Netanyahu’s attack and incitement against journalists who are carrying out their work and public mission,” the organization states after the premier blamed the media for failing to cover what he said was unfair treatment by the justice system.
The group says that it supports Channel 12’s Yollan Cohen and Kan news correspondent Michael Shemesh after Netanyahu loudly criticized them over their coverage, accusing them of spreading “falsehoods” and “fake news” in response to their questions.
“The role of the media is to ask the prime minister, every prime minister, difficult questions,” the group says, taking issue with the fact that Netanyahu at one point joked that allowing a journalist from the pro-Netanyahu Channel 14 to ask two questions rather than one constituted baksheesh or bribery.
