Police shove veteran photojournalist to the ground at protest outside Likud event
Social Equality Minister May Golan says she filed police complaint after demonstrators allegedly shouted abuse, sexual harassment at her as she entered pre-Rosh Hashanah gathering
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Scuffles between protesters and police erupted outside a Likud Party event on Saturday night, and a veteran photojournalist was injured by a police officer, as hundreds of demonstrators massed outside the ruling party’s pre-Rosh Hashanah event and confronted a number of its government ministers as they entered the venue in the central Israeli city of Petah Tikvah.
The event, a toast to mark the Jewish New Year, took place as thousands gathered across the country to call for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and a deal to release the remaining 48 hostages held by Hamas and other terror groups.
Protest organizers urged the public to show up to the Likud event in a show of opposition to the lawmakers who they said were “celebrating while there are 48 hostages who have been languishing in Gaza for 708 days.”
The demonstrators gathered at the entrance to the venue with flags and megaphones, but were quickly pushed back behind a barricade by the police.
They crowded the sides of the road, blaring horns and banging drums as Likud members, including Transportation Minister Miri Regev, rushed past them into the venue, surrounded by security.
Footage on social media showed protesters chanting “Shame!” at those entering the event.
“How can you celebrate when our brothers are in the tunnels?” one protester demanded, referring to the hostages held underground in Gaza.
“You are gluttons and they are starving!” another shouted at the lawmakers.
A video circulating on social media showed the moment of Regev’s arrival to the event, under heavy police presence. As she was led through the parted crowd of protesters, veteran photographer Reuven Castro could be seen walking close by, snapping images of her, before a police officer rushed at him, knocking him to the ground.
עבור אותו שוטר מג"ב חסר בינה זה לא ממש משנה. מפגין, עובר אורח או צלם עיתונות בן 70 שעושה את עבודתו, הכל אותו דבר. מותר לתקוף, לדחוף ורגע אחרי הוא אפילו לא עצר כי מבחינתו דבר לא קרה. אלימות של ביריון ללא שום צורך, רק מתוך הרגל. בריאות קסטרו. pic.twitter.com/qC0sQaZPba
— יוסי מזרחי Yossi Mizrachi (@yosimiz1) September 13, 2025
The video showed that he remained sprawled there for several moments until two other police officers approached him, followed by other photographers and several protesters, as he slowly began to move.
The horns in the background died down as Regev entered the building and instead, protesters began to chant, “Police, police, who are you protecting?” upon noticing Castro on the floor.
The Kan public broadcaster reported that Castro, who works for the Walla news site, required medical attention and received treatment at the scene.
The Israel Police said it has opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
Meanwhile, Social Equality Minister May Golan said in a post on X that protesters who accosted her at the entrance to the event hurled epithets at her and sexually harassed her.
She said that she filed a police complaint over the alleged incident.
In footage, she could be seen making a heart sign with her hands as she walked by the protesters
“I just arrived under heavy security at the Likud’s toast event in Petah Tikva and was attacked by protesters who cursed me, threw objects toward me, and yelled things at me that included sexual harassment,” Golan posted on X.
She vowed to continue “to stand tall and voice my truth and that of the huge audience I represent!”
הגעתי כעת תחת אבטחה כבדה לאירוע הרמת כוסית של הליכוד בפ״ת והותקפתי על ידי מפגינים שקיללו אותי, זרקו לעברי חפצים וקראו לעברי הערות הכוללות הטרדות מיניות –
אם פעילי ימין היו מתנהגים כך המהדורות היו נפתחות, אבל הם לא בוחלים בכלום, לא בהסתה לרצח ולא בפציעה עד זוב דם של צלם תמים!… pic.twitter.com/6GLhLgdZai
— May Golan מאי גולן (@GolanMay) September 13, 2025
One protester, a woman in her 40s, was arrested on suspicion of attacking a police officer during the protest.
In a statement regarding her arrest, the Israel Police said it views the right to protest as a “cornerstone of a democratic country” so long as they remain lawful.
“The police will not allow public disturbance, violations of freedom of movement, and any behavior that endangers the safety of the public and the police,” the statement added.
The Times of Israel Community.