Daniel Sirioti, Israel Today correspondent in the Haifa area, came to Kiryat Ata as part of his work. Young people who recognized that he was a journalist began to beat him.
The result: concussion, stabbing and broken teeth
"Israel Hayom" reporter Daniel Sirioti was attacked last night (Saturday 26/10/19) in Kiryat Ata by a group of young people who apparently did not like the fact that he was a media person.
Daniel Sirioti described and said:
Yesterday evening I went to the family home of a person killed in a car accident. I went to try to arrange an interview. A group of some ultra-Orthodox youths, apparently converts, were sitting at the end of the street. It is important to note that they have nothing to do with the family of the deceased.
"They noticed that there was a press sticker on my car. They asked if I was a journalist. They started cursing. They said that we are all traitors, we are all leftists. At some point one of the guys arrived on an electric bike with a child on it, and tried to block my path.
I said to him, 'Tell me, is this how you endanger the child? If I hurt you, I would go to prison.'
Daniel added: "At that moment I felt a punch to the face while I was sitting in the car. I went outside. 6-7 guys gathered around me and started beating me. One took out a knife and tried to stab me in the stomach. I defended myself and stabbed my finger. The rest beat me in the face, broke me Two. Someone came with a spike and they shouted 'stab him, stab him'.
Finally, Serioti said: "Fortunately, two citizens passed by and one of them jumped at me and said, 'If you want to stab him, you'll have to go through me first.' Mine is bleeding without teeth and swollen."
Sirioti was taken to the Rambam Hospital where he was diagnosed with a mild concussion, and significant trauma to his body. "I lost 6 teeth and my body hurts. Lucky that I was able to protect my stomach from a significant stabbing."
The police launched an investigation with the aim of locating the attackers and bringing them to justice.
Our reporter Aki Flexer contacted the Association of Journalists of Haifa and the North and received their response to the attack on journalist Daniel Serioti from "Israel Today": We wish "Israel Today" journalist Daniel Serioti a speedy recovery, and strongly condemn any type of violence against journalists performing their duties.
The chairman of the Association of Journalists, Shuli Feuer Schinwald, told Lahi Fe that the serious incident reflects the processes of division, incitement and lack of respect for others, which have recently been taking place in Israel. These processes threaten not only the freedom of the press, law and justice, but society as a whole. The Association of Journalists will act as much as it can to prevent the recurrence of violent incidents of this type in the future and will respond strongly to the attempts to undermine freedom of expression and democracy in Israel.
Insolent. What is the way of the Torah?
There is no respect for anything.
For them, Shabbat. Religious people do not live here on a desert island. Well done to religion. And I have a lot of respect for religion. Annie thinks that some rabbi would agree with such an attack. Shame and insolence
Ilana
This country has long worked as a human being, there is no law, there is no law, there is no justice, there is anarchy here
The police are investigating...
The police are investigating what you have to say
good
Horror.
What is happening in this country?
It's very sad that it's like this