When the media is marked as an enemy, violence becomes inevitable
The threat to the free press in Israel is manifesting in dangerous ways, from legislative pressure to physical violence. Following the incident where a stone was thrown at the Channel 12 building, it is clear that incitement against journalists has reached a critical threshold.
The threat to the free press in the State of Israel exists on several fronts: in Knesset legislation, in the legitimization and cultivation of propaganda channels — and also in stones. A note was attached to the stone that shattered the doors of the Channel 12 building this morning. This time it was a "speaking" stone, and it was directed at Guy Peleg, his colleagues, and his editors:
"Until you apologize for the Sde Teiman affair, I will not stop. Next time, the brick will be aimed at one of the heads. Take this letter with the utmost seriousness. It's a pity, because in the end, someone will die."
This threat is clearer and more explicit even than the emblem of Yitzhak Rabin's car that was torn off and displayed by Itamar Ben Gvir. There, the threat was carried out by another, Yigal Amir. The free press is gradually becoming "enemy of the people" number one. The incitement against it exceeds even the level of incitement accepted in political and ideological struggle arenas. This line is dictated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has declared an all-out war on the independent and critical media.
His attempts to destroy them have spared no effort, including those that brought him to the defendants' bench. His billionaire associates are purchasing and establishing propaganda platforms for him, his coalition is legislating laws in their favor, his government is closing Galei Tzahal, trying to stifle "Haaretz," and doing everything to prevent the rescue of "Reshet 13." And to all these, stones are now added. At this stage, stones are threatening. There is no doubt that the hatred for the independent media will be one of the goals of the Likud election campaign. And at the end of every incitement campaign, there is the hothead who will find for the stone or the bullet a target that is not just the entrance door, but one of those entering its gates.
There are no more "killing words" than those attached to the shattering stone from this morning. And here it is customary to direct the alarm to the police. Unfortunately, we have no other police than Ben Gvir's police. A political police force that shows unsurprising helplessness in dealing with violence in the Arab sector and in the territories of Judea and Samaria, two arenas in which the minister has a great interest. And now add the media to these two bleeding fronts and you will understand the anxiety and pessimism regarding salvation from the police. But there is no choice but to call on it to fulfill its role. And if necessary, with the assistance of the Shin Bet, which is supposed to protect democratic institutions. The independent media is a democratic institution of the highest order, and here too we have a head of the Shin Bet, like David Zini, who does not really share this view. So first of all, it is important to warn and cry out — beware that blood is not spilled here. And then, beware of the destruction of another outpost without which there is no democracy. The press stands here alongside the Attorney General and the courts, all of which are under attack to deny their independence and undermine their legitimacy. And when stones are thrown into this arena, the physical danger becomes tangible and hovers over the heads of judges, prosecutors, and also journalists.
