Rising Violence Against Israeli Media Ahead of Elections

On a Tuesday in late July 2026, a masked assailant smashed the glass entrance of Channel 12’s Tel Aviv headquarters with a brick. An anonymous note left at the scene warned, “Someone will die,” and threatened that the next brick could be aimed at a journalist’s head. Police arrested a man in his 40s from nearby Ramat Gan, and the investigation is being conducted jointly by the police and Shin Bet security services.

Times of Israel

The assault comes amid a pattern of intimidation targeting journalists who criticize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Earlier in July, masked attackers damaged the entrances of both Channel 12 and the newspaper Haaretz. A key flashpoint has been the Sde Teiman affair, in which leaked footage broadcast by Channel 12 in August 2024 alleged sexual abuse by Israeli reservists of a Palestinian detainee. Right-wing politicians framed the coverage as a “blood libel,” and the case was later closed by the military’s new advocate-general.

CNN

• World Press Freedom Index 2026 – Israel ranked 116 of 180 countries (Reporters Without Borders).

CNN

• Attacks on media – At least three vandalism incidents against Channel 12 within a month; two assaults in July 2026 alone.

CNN

• Nir Barkat, Minister of Economy and Industry, condemned the vandalism but claimed Channel 12 had “harmed” Israeli soldiers and urged the public to switch channels.

CNN

• Amichai Eliyahu, minister from the far-right Otzma Yehudit Party, tweeted opposition to violence while demanding that journalists implicated in the Sde Teiman affair face trial.

CNN

• Police announced the arrest of a suspect and confirmed Shin Bet’s involvement.

Times of Israel

• Prime Minister Netanyahu and most of his allies have not publicly condemned the attack.

CNN

Journalists’ organizations, opposition lawmakers, and media outlets have blamed Netanyahu and his allies for fostering an environment that encourages intimidation. The Democratic Party, the Labor Party, and the journalists’ union argue that the prime minister’s rhetoric “creates the conditions for violence” and threatens the integrity of the upcoming election.

CNN

• “Someone who throws a stone at a glass door will throw it at a person’s head,” — Danny Kushmaro, main anchor, Channel 12

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The discrepancy highlights a gap between political accusations and verified investigative findings.

CNN

• The High Court of Justice has issued an interim order barring immediate implementation of a newly passed broadcasting law that replaces Israel’s independent media regulator with politically appointed officials.

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• Police continue to investigate the assault, with the arrested suspect awaiting further legal proceedings.

Times of Israel

The convergence of political rhetoric, legislative changes, and a series of attacks underscores a deteriorating climate for press freedom in Israel as the nation approaches a pivotal election.

CNN