Blood and Broken Cameras: Security Guard Injured as Anti-Draft Protesters Target News Team

The hazardous conditions for journalists covering civil unrest in Israel reached a breaking point on Tuesday evening when a Kan News television crew was targeted in a coordinated and violent assault. While reporting on the large scale ultra-Orthodox demonstrations against military conscription in Jerusalem, reporter Chaim Golditch, his photographer, and three security guards were surrounded by a mob of extremists. The situation rapidly escalated into a physical war against the press, with protesters hurling heavy stones, various objects, and spitting at the news team while chasing them through the streets.

The violence resulted in immediate physical injuries and significant property damage. One of the security guards assigned to protect the journalists was struck directly in the head by a large stone. Fortunately, another member of the security detail had professional medical training as a paramedic and was able to provide immediate first aid to stop the bleeding on the spot. During the chaos, the crew's professional camera was snatched and completely smashed, rendering it useless. Realizing the security detail could no longer hold back the surging crowd, the team was forced to flee for their lives, eventually finding temporary sanctuary inside a nearby retail store.

The news crew remained trapped inside the shop, surrounded by an aggressive crowd, until a massive rescue operation was launched by the authorities. Dozens of Border Police officers arrived at the scene to push back the rioters and create a secure exit for the journalists and their guards. This targeted attack is not an isolated incident, it mirrors a similar assault two months ago when News 12 reporter Inbar Twizer was pelted with bottles and doused with water during a similar demonstration. Despite video evidence of that prior attack, the police recently closed the case without filing charges, a move that critics argue has emboldened extremists to continue their war against the media.

As the debate over military service continues to tear at the social fabric of the country, the safety of those tasked with reporting on the front lines of these domestic disputes is under severe threat. The Kan 11 network released a statement confirming that their team is safe but visibly shaken by the intensity of the hatred directed toward them. The incident has raised urgent questions regarding the level of protection afforded to the press and whether the current legal system is doing enough to deter those who use violence to silence the news.