Haaretz Reporter Faces Investigation Demand Over Social Media Remark
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Haaretz legal correspondent Yael Freidson's social media comment suggesting the Chief Rabbinate offices would be a target for arson in Israel has led to a demand for an investigation. The Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services called for an inquiry into incitement to violence. Freidson deleted the remark, calling it a sarcastic response taken out of proportion, and criticized the official for his reaction while allegedly ignoring a religious ruling permitting theft.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Haaretz correspondent Yael Freidson suggested burning the Chief Rabbinate offices in an X post.
- The Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services demanded an investigation into Freidson for incitement.
- Freidson deleted her comment, calling it a sarcastic remark in a humorous thread.
- She criticized the official for his reaction, contrasting it with inaction on a Rabbi's ruling.
- The incident occurred amid violent riots in France where buildings were set ablaze.
Yael Freidson, the legal correspondent for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, has drawn significant backlash for a comment made on social media platform X. Responding to a hypothetical question about which public building she would set on fire in Israel, posed in the context of the riots in France, Freidson replied, "The Chief Rabbinate offices." This statement quickly prompted Yehuda Avidan, Director General of the Ministry of Religious Services and acting Director General of the Chief Rabbinate, to demand an investigation into Freidson for incitement to violence. Avidan also requested increased security at the Rabbinate offices.
Freidson later deleted her original response and clarified her position, stating that her comment was a "sarcastic response in a humorous thread" that had been taken out of proportion. She further criticized Avidan's demand for an investigation, contrasting his sensitivity to incitement with his alleged inaction regarding a religious ruling by Rabbi Dov Lior that reportedly permitted the theft of olives belonging to Palestinians. Freidson expressed her expectation that Avidan would pursue the Rabbi with the same assertiveness, given his greater public standing compared to a "negligible tweet."
The incident occurred against the backdrop of violent riots in France, which saw public buildings and businesses set ablaze and looted, including a synagogue in Paris. Reports indicate over 1,800 arrests have been made across France in connection with the unrest.
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