Israeli Reporters Boycott PM Netanyahu Briefing Over Selective Invitations
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has sparked a media boycott after selectively inviting reporters to a national security briefing. Several prominent journalists, including Or Heller and Itay Blumenthal, announced they would not attend the event due to the exclusion of some colleagues. Blumenthal stated he would attend if all military reporters were invited, noting he had many unanswered questions for the Prime Minister. The boycott highlights growing tensions between Netanyahu and the press corps, particularly in the lead-up to elections.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office is facing a media boycott over selective invitations to a national security briefing.
- Reporters Itay Blumenthal and Nitzan Shapira announced they will boycott the briefing due to the exclusion of colleagues.
- Itay Blumenthal stated he would attend if all military reporters were invited, noting he has many questions for Netanyahu.
- The briefing's timing, just ten days before elections, is seen by some as politically motivated.
- The dispute has intensified, turning the national security discussion into a conflict between the PM's office and the press.
A dispute has intensified between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the press corps over a scheduled briefing on Israel's national security concept. Several military reporters were reportedly not invited to the meeting, prompting sharp criticism from journalists. Some have announced they will boycott the briefing if their colleagues are excluded.
The invitation stated that the Prime Minister would present Israel's national security concept to reporters at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. Those invited were asked to arrive early for security checks, with the briefing set for 10:00 AM. The invitation emphasized its personal nature.
Reporter Or Heller criticized the decision, noting that Netanyahu had not met with the press corps since October 7th. He questioned the timing, just ten days before elections, and the process behind formulating the national security concept, asking if it was presented to the cabinet or the security establishment.
Itay Blumenthal also launched a detailed critique, stating that Netanyahu had not held discussions with military reporters for over three years, despite major events including the war in Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, and the West Bank. He suggested the briefing was timed for the election campaign but acknowledged its importance. Blumenthal confirmed he would not attend the briefing in its current selective format, but would attend if all military reporters were invited, stating he had many questions for Netanyahu that he had been unable to ask for three years.
Nitzan Shapira of Channel 12 news also announced her boycott, calling the exclusion of reporters and media outlets "unacceptable." Heller drew a parallel to a similar situation with Donald Trump and the American press, where media outlets collectively boycotted him.
The briefing, intended to focus on national security, has now become a point of contention between the Prime Minister's Office and a segment of the press, with at least some journalists vowing not to participate in the current format.
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