Following the Incident, Right-Wing Activist Mordechai David and Eyal Berkowitz Are Under Police Investigation

A wave of investigations in the current affairs arena: right-wing activist David is being questioned by police at this time following a series of turbulent incidents in recent weeks. At the same time, presenter Eyal Berkowitz has also been summoned for a warning interrogation over an unusual incident that took place in the Channel 13 studio.

At this time, right-wing activist Mordechai David is being questioned under caution at a police station, following a series of incidents that sparked public controversy in recent weeks. At the same time, presenter Eyal Berkowitz has also been summoned for a warning interrogation, and is expected to be questioned later over a separate incident that took place in the Channel 13 studio.

According to police sources, David is being questioned on suspicion of trespassing, invasion of privacy and disturbing the peace. The suspicions against him were formed following the incident in which he blocked the vehicle of former Supreme Court President Aharon Barak, an event that received broad attention and even sparked a heated public debate over the boundaries of legitimate protest. Law enforcement officials said they believe there is solid and sufficient evidentiary basis in the case to file an indictment against the activist. In the coming weeks, the prosecution is expected to review the investigation materials and formulate a final decision on the matter.

It should be noted that last week David blocked Barak’s car as he was leaving a military event, and among other things called him “Khamenei.” Later in the week he also briefly blocked the car of former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who also testified over the weekend against David.

Berkowitz summoned for questioning after physical confrontation in the studio

Alongside the investigation of David, presenter Eyal Berkowitz was also summoned for a warning interrogation by police. The summons came after an unusual incident that took place in the Channel 13 News studio, when a verbal confrontation between him and MK Tzvi Sukkot turned into an embarrassing physical incident.

According to reports, MK Sukkot arrived for an interview with Berkowitz and Moriah Asraf wearing a prominent patch on his clothes bearing the word “Messiah,” a clear protest against the IDF chief of staff’s decision to send soldiers to days of imprisonment in a military prison for wearing the symbol. But the political protest quickly led to a response that crossed all accepted lines.

During the live broadcast, Berkowitz pulled out patches he had prepared in advance with the inscriptions “Aharon Barak the king” and “Brothers in Arms.” The presenter did not stop at showing them to the camera, but stood up from his seat and tried to physically and forcibly attach them to the suit of the stunned MK. Sukkot quickly removed the patches that had been forced on him, but the presenter did not stop there. Sukkot, who tried to remain calm, pushed the presenter away and asked him in surprise, “Why with the hands?”

The incident sparked a broad wave of criticism in Israeli public discourse, with many seeing it as crossing a red line in media debate. MK Sukkot filed a police complaint, and the presenter was summoned for a warning interrogation.

Complex background: legitimate protest or crossing a line?

The two cases raise complex questions about the boundaries of legitimate protest and public discourse in Israel. In Mordechai David’s case, the main argument is that blocking vehicles is inherently improper and illegal. On the other hand, there is a principled claim that in recent years similar protest tactics have been used by left-wing activists, without significant media condemnation and without notable enforcement by the authorities.

In Berkowitz’s case, the question is whether a news presenter may take physical action against a guest in the studio, even if it is a response to political protest he sees as provocative. The physical confrontation was perceived by many as crossing a red line in media discourse and drew harsh criticism of the presenter’s conduct.