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Belfast man charged after alleged attack on Israeli TV crew

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • A 30-year-old man has been charged in Belfast for allegedly attacking an Israeli i24NEWS television crew with a glass.
  • The crew was filming a documentary series on rising antisemitism in Europe when the incident occurred.
  • The man reportedly shouted anti-Israel slogans and assaulted a cameraman after overhearing the journalists identify themselves as Israeli.

Police in Belfast have charged a 30-year-old man following an alleged attack on an Israeli i24NEWS television crew. The incident occurred earlier this month as the crew was filming a documentary series focused on the rise of antisemitism across Europe.

He came over to us and started asking questions. We put the camera on him, and then he gave us the middle finger and shouted: “f*** Israel.”

— Yonatan RavehDescribing the initial confrontation with the alleged attacker.

The attack happened while i24NEWS reporter Yonatan Raveh and cameraman Nadav Abbas were conducting street interviews. Raveh told The Jerusalem Post that he believes the man approached them after overhearing them tell interviewees they were from Israel. The man then allegedly began asking questions, gave a middle finger, and shouted, "f*** Israel."

didn’t do anything.

— Yonatan RavehReferring to the inaction of bar security during the initial stages of the incident.

The assailant reportedly attempted to grab the journalists' camera equipment and made inappropriate gestures. Bar security was present but did not intervene initially. The man then allegedly threw a large glass beer mug at Abbas, striking him in the head and causing an injury. Security eventually intervened and escorted the journalists into the bar.

There can be absolutely no justification for violence or intimidation directed towards journalists because they are Israeli or Jewish.

— Gavin RobinsonCondemning the attack and emphasizing the unacceptability of targeting journalists based on their nationality or religion.

The man has been charged with several offenses, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, assault on police, and possession of an offensive weapon. He appeared in court on August 13. Democratic Unionist Party leader Gavin Robinson condemned the assault, stating there is no justification for violence against journalists based on their identity and urging a full investigation into the motivation behind the attack.

People are entitled to hold strong views about the Middle East, but that can never become a license for hatred or violence against Israeli or Jewish people.

— Gavin RobinsonStating that political views do not justify hatred or violence.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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