Press Council Criticized for Silence After Reporter Attacked in Haifa

Channel 14 reporter Gal Tobi was harassed and physically touched with objects by an individual while covering elections in Haifa on Tuesday. The attacker reportedly targeted Tobi due to her affiliation with Channel 14. Despite the severity of the incident, the Press Council of Israel, an organization responsible for protecting journalists from violence and silencing, has not yet issued a condemnation.

Tobi, who covers the northern region for Channel 14, described the encounter in a visibly distressed state, telling viewers that the man approached her, harassed her, touched her with objects, and yelled at her while she was in a public space in her own neighborhood. She expressed her shock and near-tears reaction to the event.

The article criticizes the Press Council's silence, questioning why the body, tasked with defending journalists and ensuring they can work without threats, has not supported Tobi. It argues that freedom of the press must be a universal principle, not selectively applied based on a journalist's media outlet or its perceived political leanings. The Press Council had not provided a response by the time of publication.