Haredi Journalists Council Demands Police Explanation After Photographer's Arrest
Translated & summarized from Behadrei Haredim by baba
The Haredi Journalists and Photographers Council will issue a press card to photographer David Keshet, who was arrested last Thursday while covering a protest in Bnei Brak. The council is demanding an explanation from the police regarding the arrest, citing alleged police violence and an infringement on press freedom. They also requested the preservation of police bodycam footage and a review of protocols for interacting with journalists at protests.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Haredi Journalists Council to award press card to photographer David Keshet.
- Keshet was arrested last Thursday while covering a protest in Bnei Brak.
- The council cited alleged police violence and infringement on press freedom.
- A formal protest letter was sent to the outgoing Dan Region Commander.
- The council demands preservation of police bodycam footage.
The Haredi Journalists and Photographers Council announced Saturday evening that it would award its organizational press card to David Keshet, a photographer for "Yediot Bnei Brak." The decision follows Keshet's arrest last Thursday while covering a demonstration in Bnei Brak. According to the council, Keshet, a well-known photographer in the Haredi sector, was detained minutes after documenting alleged police misconduct. The organization expressed deep concern over the infringement of press freedom and demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances of the arrest.
In parallel with the press card announcement, the council sent a formal letter of protest to the outgoing Commander of the Dan Region, Superintendent Elad Klein. Klein had left his post the day before the demonstration, and a new commander had not yet been appointed. The letter requests a detailed explanation for the arrest and an inquiry into whether Keshet's claim of working as a journalist was verified on site. The council also demanded the immediate preservation of bodycam footage from the involved officers and a review of guidelines for forces regarding the work of journalists and photographers at protest sites.
The council stated that arresting a photographer during their work constitutes crossing a red line, arguing that situations where media personnel are detained after documenting sensitive events directly harm press freedom and the public's right to know. The Haredi Journalists Council pledged to support field journalists and use all available means to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The council highlighted a persistent disparity in how police forces treat journalists and photographers from the Haredi media, demanding equal and professional treatment for all media professionals, regardless of their sector or the outlet they represent.