Court Issues Harassment Order Against Far-Right Activist Mordechai David

A court on Tuesday granted a request by Hadas Klein, a key witness in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trial, and issued a restraining order against far-right activist Mordechai David and two of his associates. Klein sought the order after David was filmed last Saturday night at a protest in Tel Aviv’s Habima Square chasing her and shouting, “Shame on you!” Witnesses said he also tried to get physically close to her before being stopped.

David was detained on Monday after allegedly rioting, assaulting and blocking journalist Lucy Aharish, her husband Tzachi Halevi, and civilian aid volunteers who accompanied them as they left the court. According to the article, David arrived with others, disrupted public order, threatened those present and used violence for several minutes. Police took him in for questioning and later released him to five days of house arrest.

About a week and a half ago, Channel 13 reported for the first time that, at the request of the state prosecution, David was again questioned under caution in the case involving the blocking of former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak’s car. He is suspected of trespassing, invasion of privacy and conduct likely to disturb public peace.

The prosecution is expected to decide in the coming weeks whether to file an indictment. Law enforcement officials believe there is sufficient evidence for charges, but the final decision rests with the state prosecution.