Right-Wing Activist Detained After Blocking Lucy Aharish and Tzahi Halevi Outside Tel Aviv Court

Right-wing activist Mordechai David was detained for questioning on Monday after again blocking the path of Lucy Aharish outside the Tel Aviv District Court, in a fresh confrontation that ended with his release to house arrest under restrictive conditions. The couple, Aharish and her husband, actor Tzahi Halevi, had come to a hearing on an appeal filed by Rami Ben Yehuda against a harassment-prevention order that Aharish had requested.

When the hearing ended, dozens of protesters waited outside the court. Some blocked the couple’s exit and shouted at them. Supporters who had come to escort Aharish and Halevi tried to keep the protesters back and form a buffer, while security personnel and guards worked to clear a path.

During the incident, David was heard asking Aharish, “Why did you bring the one who kicked the goats from the ‘No to Occupation’ organization onto the studio?” When told he was disturbing the peace, he replied, “I am not disturbing the peace, the leftists are disturbing the peace.” He then kept walking behind Aharish and said, “I am not sticking to her only because of the guards,” later adding, “Lucy Aharish, did you find it funny that they chased after Yair Netanyahu?” Other protesters shouted, “How much money did you get from the Brothers in Arms?”

The unrest continued even after Aharish and Halevi reached a waiting taxi, which was briefly blocked until police arrived. Officers then took David in for questioning on suspicion of assault, disorderly conduct in a public place, invasion of privacy, and disturbing the public order. Police later released him to house arrest with restrictions.

This was not David’s first clash with the couple. He was detained in February after taking part in a protest outside their home, and last week he was questioned under caution after a widely publicized confrontation with Eyal Berkowitz, during which he lay on the hood of Berkowitz’s car.