Activist Summoned for Questioning After Lod Clashes

Ultra-right activist Mordechai David, who was involved in Itamar Ben-Gvir's election campaign, was summoned for police questioning on Monday, November 9th. The previous day, November 8th, David visited Lod to conduct what he termed a "order restoration raid." This action led to street clashes between Jewish teenagers and Arab residents, according to Ynet. Police arrested 11 individuals, both Jewish and Arab, on suspicion of disturbing the peace and disobeying officers; all were released hours later. While David is not suspected of direct involvement in the fighting, his questioning aims to set boundaries for those who escalate tensions in the city.

David had posted a video on Instagram from Lod on November 8th, stating, "We came to walk through the Arab neighborhoods. Young guys, Jewish heroes, came to conduct an order restoration raid in Lod." Following this, Mayor Yair Revivo reported that local teenagers clashed with Arab residents, resulting in a violent fight with casualties. "I am boiling with rage," the mayor stated, attributing the incident to a group of extremists who came from another city to inflame the situation. He explained that after police dispersed the visiting group, agitated local youths went home, shouting insults near Arab homes, which prompted Arab residents to come out and a fight to erupt.

According to sources in Lod, significant police forces under the command of local station chief Meidad Levi were required to quell the disturbances and restore calm. Mayor Revivo noted that Lod had maintained relative peace since the heavy clashes of May 2021 during Operation "Guardian of the Walls," even during the Gaza war, but David managed to disrupt it. "I have no intention of allowing anyone to return us to those terrible days. I have approached the head of Shin Bet, informed him of the serious events and the real danger of further escalation, and asked him to take immediate measures to prevent the situation from worsening," the mayor said.

A resident expressed concern in a message to the mayor about a group passing through the street singing and shouting, stating, "They will leave, and we have to live here every day." Freddie Dabash, owner of a local newspaper and administrator of a large WhatsApp group, commented on November 9th that it was a "miracle our city is not blocked now" and that they were "moments away from an explosion and a repeat of the events of Guardian of the Walls." He questioned why residents should allow someone like Mordechai David into the city and thanked the police chief for stopping the clashes.

Mordechai David is described as a right-wing activist and blogger from Bnei Brak known for controversial attacks on public figures. He participated in Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party campaign in the 2026 Knesset elections. Media reports indicate past legal issues, including charges for attempted arson and illegal entry into zoo enclosures, with some cases resulting in community service.