Police Review Journalist Hagi Huberman's Inflammatory Remarks

Israel Police said on Sunday it is examining harsh and inciting remarks made by editor and journalist Hagi Huberman, who is identified with Naftali Bennett. The inquiry began after Huberman wrote in an internal WhatsApp group that he supports applying the phrase, “Run over every religious Jew, destroy every haredi,” triggering broad public outrage.

In response to a question from Channel 14, Huberman said he meant “run over every religious Jew who blocks roads in a protest against military enlistment.” Asked whether that was reasonable, he said that in his view the public response to road blockages over opposition to enlistment should be physical violence, including breaking bones, “preferably with clubs.”

If the statements are found to be incitement, Huberman could be summoned for questioning, pending approval from the attorney general. Public reactions were especially harsh, with many social media users calling on the police, the Shin Bet and the State Attorney’s Office to investigate him for racist incitement to murder.

Commenters described his words as antisemitism and a call for pogroms, and said they were deeply shocked. This is not the first time Huberman has been linked to abrasive language. In June 2022, during the Bennett-Lapid government, he sent MK Idit Silman a message saying that if she voted against a regulations bill in Judea and Samaria, he would have a “great headline” linking her to Ayman Odeh against settlers. Silman then described the message as blackmail and threats.