For several months, the Israeli journalist Guy Peleg has been the subject of virulent attacks by Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and his party, the Likud, resulting in a flood of violent reactions against him. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) denounces irresponsible and dangerous remarks.
Between August 30 and August 31, at least three messages against Channel 12 were posted on the Facebook page of Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu. One of the publications is aimed directly at journalist Guy Peleg , who has exposed revelations of corruption cases involving the Israeli leader. The message is accompanied by a photo of the reporter on which is written ” Fake news “.
“By participating in a smear campaign against a media and targeting a particular journalist, the Israeli prime minister is helping to create a climate of hatred against the press ,” said Sabrina Bennoui, head of Reporters Without Borders’ Middle East office. RSF). This kind of talk and process is as detestable as it is detrimental to the smooth running of the electoral process and Israeli democracy as a whole. “
According to the daily Yedioth Ahronoth , the journalist has received threats on social networks and WhatsApp, which has pushed his channel to strengthen its security. One of the messages states: ” You incite hatred against Bibi (Benyamin Netanyahu, Ed) , God will make you pay
The Israeli Prime Minister also called Friday, August 30 on his Facebook pageboycott of the Channel 12 Israeli channel . The call comes only hoursafter the Election Commission rejected the Likud party’s request to prevent the channel from releasing new revelations about a corruption case in which Benyamin Netanyahu is quoted. The Prime Minister accuses the channel ” to attack Israeli democracy ” and to try to ” influence the outcome of the legislative elections ” in Israel to be held on September 17.
At the same time, the son of the Israeli leader, Yair Netanyahu, encouraged the journalist’s detractors to call him “Pinocchio” and not “Dumbo”, to make fun of his physique. In response, many journalists and hundreds of Israeli citizens have expressed their supportfor Guy Peleg by sharing on social networks the slogan: “I am Guy Peleg”.
According to a count of the Israeli NGO The Seventh Eye , the Channel 12 reporter was attacked more than 60 times by Benyamin Netanyahu and his son on social networks between May and July 2019 and Channel 12 more than 140 times.
Israel ranks 88th in RSF’s World Press Freedom Index .
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