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February 26, 2026 – Israel –
Far-right demonstrators in Tel Aviv have again harassed Arab Israeli journalist Lucy Aharish, rallying outside her home for the fourth time in five days as tensions over her public commentary continue to escalate. The protests, led by a group of hard-right activists, saw opponents chanting and shouting menacing slogans at Aharish and others present, in a sequence of actions that journalists and rights observers described as intimidation and intimidation of the press.
On February 25, 2026, roughly two dozen activists assembled near Aharish’s residence, shouting messages including “We’re here to give you a message” and “It won’t stop here,” according to reports. At one point during the demonstration, some participants hurled rocks in the direction of a journalist covering the scene, and at least one individual was detained by police.
The repeated rallies followed statements made by Aharish on her Channel 13 broadcast earlier in the month, in which she commented on rising crime and social unrest in Arab communities and predicted that Arab Israelis would turn out in force at the ballot box to seek change in government. Her remarks included the Arabic phrase Inshallah, meaning “God willing,” and drew sharply critical reactions from some right-wing circles.
Aharish publicly condemned the demonstrations, characterising the activists as supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and warning that there were serious consequences if violence or harm befell her, her family, or other journalists. The invocation of her own safety and that of the broader media community underscored concerns that such protests represent more than political disagreement, but rather a form of targeted pressure on an individual reporter because of her views and identity.
Law enforcement has intervened at several of the protests, with police detaining several demonstrators in the past week, though critics say more decisive action is needed to protect journalists from harassment near their homes. Advocates for press freedom argue that persistent public intimidation of journalists due to their reporting undermines democratic norms and can have a chilling effect on free expression, particularly for minority journalists in a polarized political climate.
The episode has drawn attention from media rights observers who note that Arab Israeli journalists and other minority media workers have faced heightened threats and hostility in recent years amid broader political conflicts and societal divisions within Israel.
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