Israel: France 24 Reporter Leyla Avde Harassed By Fanatical Israelis
Location: Israel, West Jerusalem
Date: November 23, 2022
France 24 Arab female correspondent Leyla Avde was harassed by a group of extremist Israelis for speaking Arabic at the site of the bomb attack in West Jerusalem on Wednesday, November 23. The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the attack and urges authorities to protect women journalists from such aggression and hold the perpetrators accountable.
On the day the incident occurred two separate bomb attacks took place in West Jerusalem.
Journalist Leyla Avde of France 24, a French state-owned international news television network based in Paris which broadcasts in French, English, Arabic, and Spanish, was on the ground broadcasting live in the Givat Shaul area. She was speaking Arabic while reporting from the explosion site.
Upon realizing Avde was speaking Arabic, a group of about 30 young Israelis present at the site, approached the journalist and the cameraman in efforts to disrupt the broadcast. Some of them got in front of the camera, while others got into a verbal exchange with Avde. In the video footage seen live on air, part of the group is heard using remarks such as “Death to Arabs”, “Arabs go to Russia” and “This is an Arab explosion”.
According to reports published in the international media, once the live broadcast ended, the fanatical Israelis surrounded the team and accosted the reporter with the expression, “Go to Gaza." Their demeanor became increasingly insulting and aggressive. They allegedly bullied, pushed and punched Avde's cameraman.
This is a recurring issue for Leyla Avde who was also attacked during the “Flag March” in Jerusalem in May, when extremist Jewish settlers attacked Palestinians and press members for using provocative and racist rhetoric.
According to Israeli police forces, the bomb attacks were carried out at two different bus stops in West Jerusalem’s Givat Shaul and Ramot junctions. The attacks, which happened half an hour apart, killed 1 Israeli and injured a total of 14 people. In the aftermath, Israeli authorities sanctioned a ban on all broadcasts related to the investigation.
Members of the Israeli press present at the scene alerted the police, however, the latter did not intervene. On the contrary, they asked the France 24 crew to leave the area. It is noted that France 24 television will initiate legal proceedings.
In Israel, far-right fanatic Jews had previously targeted members of the press. Both in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and inside Israel, fanatical Israelis attacked journalists who were trying to report.
Numerous media rights organizations have criticized the Israeli authorities for declining to take the appropriate measures in holding the culprits culpable.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism joins these media rights organizations and stands with Leyla Avde. We vehemently denounce all forms of harassment and attacks on the media and women journalists in particular. We demand that Israeli authorities take immediate action on the matter.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.