On Thursday, the security authorities in Israel opened an investigation into an Arab journalist receiving threats. Lucy Harish, born to Muslim parents, said that she had received many threatening messages from the right and the extreme right since she made statements on February 1 in which she accused the Israeli authorities of disdain for the Arab minority and lacking the will to combat violence in Arab society.

Published on: 02/27/2026 - 11:19 Last updated: 02/27/2026 - 20:48

Arab-Israeli journalist Lucy Harish said that she was the target of a hate campaign from the extreme right in recent weeks, which prompted the Israeli police on Thursday to open an investigation into the matter.

This month, Harish denounced the authorities in her program on the Israeli Reshet channel, accusing them of disdain for the Arab minority and lacking the will to combat the escalation of violent crimes in Arab society.

"Arabs are citizens, whether you like it or not, and they will go to vote in the next elections in the Jewish and democratic state," she said.

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Born to Muslim parents, Harish speaks fluent Hebrew, and was the first Arab woman to present a program in Hebrew on an Israeli television channel.

She said she had received many threatening messages from the right and far-right since her statements on February 1.

Demonstrators gathered in front of her house on Wednesday evening for the fourth time in three weeks, and used loudspeakers to shout insults and racist expressions, according to video clips broadcast on Israeli television.

Police arrested two suspects and then released them on conditions, a police spokesman said, adding that "the investigation is ongoing."

On Sunday, Harish said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who heads one of the most right-wing governments in Israel's history, bears part of the responsibility for the threats directed at her.

"You are guilty... as long as you don't rein in your thugs," she said on air.

Israeli Arabs, who are descendants of Palestinians who remained in their land after the establishment of Israel in 1948, constitute less than 20% of Israel's population of 10.1 million people.

France 24/AFP

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