Activists to Sue Israeli Media Over Incitement Against Arab Citizens

Activists and lawyers are preparing to file lawsuits and a collective petition against Israeli media outlets, accusing them of "direct incitement and a systematic approach to branding Arab citizens as terrorists and supporters of sabotage." Lawyer Hani Tounous, owner of the "i48" platform, stated that Israeli media is engaged in a "feverish campaign" to delegitimize any partnership or inclusion of Arab parties in the upcoming government, especially after their recent electoral success securing 19 seats. Tounous explained that this rhetoric extends beyond political opinions to "daily, repeated accusations" that Arab Knesset members and citizens, including professionals like doctors, teachers, and engineers, support terrorism and aim to destroy the state. He warned that this systematic demonization has a "devastating impact" on the psychological well-being of the Arab community and risks inciting physical assaults.

The legal action, expected to launch within days, will involve petitions to courts demanding "precautionary orders" to prevent channels from broadcasting "disgusting speech." Tounous also plans to approach the Attorney General for permission to file defamation lawsuits against media outlets violating laws against incitement. He acknowledged that the move is somewhat delayed due to the Arab community's historical reluctance to engage in costly and culturally challenging litigation, but emphasized that widespread public support and fundraising demonstrate a strong desire to break the silence.

Despite recognizing the difficulty of these cases and the potential for incomplete justice, the initiators assert that surrender is not an option when "nearly two million Arab citizens" are targeted. They view this initiative as an essential "popular, media, and legal struggle" to compel the media system to respect the law and cease hate speech and racial discrimination against the Arab minority.