Right-Wing Activist Released to House Arrest After Outside-Court Confrontation

Right-wing activist Mordechai David was released on Monday to five days of house arrest after being detained over an incident outside a court in Tel Aviv, where he blocked journalist Lucy Aharish and her husband as they were leaving. David is known for protesting against demonstrators who block roads and against prominent figures in Israel’s left-wing camp.

Police said that, following a complaint and video circulated Monday morning from the court area, they arrested a suspect from Bnei Brak on suspicion of simple assault, disorderly conduct in a public place, invasion of privacy, and disturbing the peace. After questioning, he was released under restrictive conditions.

The case adds to earlier confrontations between David and Aharish and her husband. In February, David was detained for questioning after arriving with other activists to protest outside their home, and that protest developed into a heated verbal exchange.

Earlier Monday, Channel 13 and 103FM host Eyal Berkowitz was also questioned under caution at a police station on suspicion of reckless driving, after an incident last week in which David tried to block his car and lay on its hood while Berkowitz kept driving. Berkowitz was released with restrictions, and the investigation continues.