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Israel Frey

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Israel Frey
ישראל פריי
CitizenshipIsraeli
Occupation
  • Journalist

Israel Frey (Hebrew: ישראל פריי) is an Israeli-Haredi journalist. He has worked for outlets including DemocraTV and Middle East Eye. Frey has been critical of the government of Israel and the actions of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). He has been arrested several times on suspicion of inciting terrorism for his tweets. After posting a video of himself praying for Palestinian civilians killed by the IDF, Frey's home was attacked and he was forced to go into hiding with his wife and children. His political views have been described as left and far-left.

Early life and family

Born in 1987, Frey grew up in Tel Aviv, Israel, in the Ger Hasidic community, an ultra-orthodox sect of Judaism. He has two siblings.[1] His grandfather, Yehuda Meir Abramowicz, was a rabbi and a member of the Knesset (MK) for the Agudat Yisrael party.[1][2] Due to his political beliefs, he refused to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).[2] He has two children and divorced in 2024.[3][1]

Career

Frey began his journalism career working for Haredi outlets, including Radio Kol Chai and Kav Itonut Datit [he] newspapers. One of his tweets sparked controversy when he referred to rabbis as "scum" for supporting Israeli settlers. He was fired under pressure from right-wing activists like Itamar Ben-Gvir.[1]

Frey began working at DemocraTV [he] in 2021, an independent station which frequently criticizes Benjamin Netanyahu.[1][4] During the COVID-19 pandemic, he reported on the lack of observance of COVID prevention rules in the Haredi community.[1][5] He attributed this nonobservance to the importance of communal events in Haredi traditions and rituals.[6][7]

Frey tweeted in support of a Palestinian man who had been detained on suspicion of planning an attack in Jaffa in September 2022, praising the man for targeting soldiers instead of attacking civilians.[8][9][5] The tweet sparked a backlash, and he was fired by DemocraTV a few months later.[4] According to Frey, DemocraTV demanded that he delete the tweet. DemocraTV leadership countered that Frey was let go because of misconduct, not due to his tweets.[1][5]

His work has appeared in Middle East Eye[8] and Haaretz.[10]

Frey regularly attends the Israeli hostage deal protests in Tel Aviv[4] and has posted footage of Israeli police detaining protesters.[11]

Arrests

In a December 2022 tweet about the killing of an Israeli soldier in East Jerusalem, Frey wrote that attacking Israeli soldiers is not terrorism.[12][9] Frey was arrested on suspicion of inciting terrorism due to his tweets and was released after questioning.[8][13] His attorney, Gaby Lasky, claimed that the arrest was political and aimed at intimidating anyone in the opposition.[8] His arrest was criticized by the Union of Journalists in Israel as an attack on the freedom of the press.[9][5]

In March 2025 he tweeted that a Palestinian who attacks Israeli soldiers or settlers should not be considered a terrorist but a hero fighting their oppressor. He was subsequently detained and interrogated on suspicion of inciting terrorism.[4][14][15] Upon his release, he condemned the arrest as a "witch hunt" and stated that he "distinguishes between condemnable harm to innocents and resistance to security forces."[14]

In July 2025 five IDF soldiers, mostly from the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, were killed by IEDs in Beit Hanoun. In response, Frey tweeted: "The world is a better place this morning, without five young men who partook in one of the most brutal crimes against humanity. Unfortunately, for the boy in Gaza now being operated on without anesthesia, the girl starving to death and the family huddling in a tent under bombardment — this is not enough."[16] The tweet was criticized by many Israelis, including some peace activists.[17] He was arrested the following day and charged with incitement to terrorism.[18][19] While in prison, Frey was classified as a security prisoner, a designation typically given to Palestinian prisoners.[20][21][22] After his conditional release to house arrest, he pledged to continue criticizing the Gaza War.[20]

Attack on his home

Frey posted a video of himself praying the Kaddish for both the Israelis killed in the October 7 attacks and the Palestinian civilians killed by the IDF in the Gaza war.[23][4][24] He received threatening messages as a result[25][26] and he was doxxed with his address details being shared online.[23][27][28] A crowd of right-wing protesters attacked his home in Bnei Brak on the evening of October 14, 2023 with flares and fireworks and attempted to break in.[4][26][27][29] A neighbor convinced the crowd to allow Frey's wife and two children to leave.[28] Frey was evacuated a few hours later with the assistance of the police who, according to him, spit on him and accused him of supporting Hamas.[26][30][27] The police escorted him to his car, and he drove away. Upon realizing that he was being followed by some of the protesters, he drove to Ichilov Hospital. He was eventually able to escape with the help of a friend and hospital security.[26][30][28]

The police briefly detained one protester outside his home for refusing to leave. They later made a statement denying Frey's claims of misconduct.[26] Israeli MK Ofer Cassif accused the police of delaying their response to the incident because they did not want to protect a leftist journalist.[31] The incident has been cited as an example of backlash against support for peace and Palestinian rights,[32][33][34] journalism,[35][36][37] and free speech[38][39][40] in Israel during the Gaza war.

Views

Frey advocates for equality for everyone who lives in Israel and Palestine.[12][9][2] He has been critical of the Israeli government[8][12] and has advocated for Israelis to refuse to serve in the IDF.[4] Frey asserts that Palestinian attacks on Israeli soldiers are not terrorism,[4][12][41] stating that "...it’s legitimate for oppressed people to strike at their oppressors...".[1][2]

Frey has stated that the Gaza war was caused by Israel's "...comprehensive plan to crush..." Palestinians.[28] He has stated that the full political spectrum of Israeli society, from right to left, is "mobilized" to view Palestinians as ISIS, Nazis, and sub-human.[42]

Frey's views are described as left wing by Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post,[1][4] while The Times of Israel describes him as far-left.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Sharir, Moran (2023-01-13). "Journalist Israel Frey: 'If I were Palestinian I would have been jailed and disappeared'". Haaretz.com. Archived from the original on 2023-01-13. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  2. ^ a b c d "'Looking the Occupation in the eye': testimonies of Palestinians' rights defenders before a UN Commission of Inquiry" (PDF). UNOHCHR. May 2021.
  3. ^ "המאבטח שהדליף את התמונה של ישראל פריי פוטר | ישראל היום". Israel Hayom. 2024-07-07. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Police detain far-left reporter for praising attacks on soldiers, settlers". The Times of Israel. 2025-03-12. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  5. ^ a b c d Breiner, Josh (2022-11-28). "Journalist Summoned Over Tweet Praising Palestinian Who Planned Tel Aviv Attack". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2022-11-28.
  6. ^ "They're key allies of Benjamin Netanyahu. They're also fueling Israel's big COVID-19 spike". Los Angeles Times. 2020-10-25. Archived from the original on 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  7. ^ Sharon, Jeremy (2021-02-02). "COVID-19: Need for haredi communal life outweighs virus risks - analysis". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2025-06-05.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Israeli police arrest journalist over tweet praising Palestinian suspected fighter". Middle East Eye. 2022-12-27. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Israeli left-wing journalist released after arrest on suspicion of inciting terrorism". The Jerusalem Post. 2022-12-27. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  10. ^ Frey, Israel (2022-12-13). "Israel's fascist turn leaves the left with one option | Opinion". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
  11. ^ "Israeli strikes kill 66 a day after ceasefire talks resume". New Arab. 2025-01-04.
  12. ^ a b c d Levi, Liran (2022-12-27). "Haredi journalist detained for alleged incitement to terrorism". Ynetnews. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  13. ^ Atzili, Boaz (2023-01-05). "Israel's Netanyahu facing off against the supreme court and proposing to limit judicial independence - and 3 other threats to Israeli democracy". The Conversation. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  14. ^ a b "Israeli Police Interrogate Left-wing ultra-Orthodox Journalist on Suspicion of Incitement to Terrorism". Haaretz. 2025-03-12. Archived from the original on 2025-03-12.
  15. ^ "Israel arrests Israeli journalist over tweet, opens terrorism investigation". Committee to Protect Journalists. 2025-07-10. Retrieved 2025-07-22.
  16. ^ "Reporter arrested for a post cheering killings of IDF troops, as fifth soldier buried". Times of Israel. 2025-07-09. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  17. ^ Summers, Charlie (2025-07-08). "Police probe far-left Haredi journalist who cheered IDF soldiers' deaths in Gaza". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2025-07-12.
  18. ^ Breiner, Josh (2025-07-10). "'Political Prosecution': Court Extends Arrest of Israeli Journalist Who Said 'World Is Better' After IDF Soldiers Killed in Gaza". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2025-07-10.
  19. ^ "Israel arrests, interrogates journalist who said 'world is better' after death of soldiers". New Arab. 2025-07-10.
  20. ^ a b Breiner, Josh (2025-07-13). "Left-wing Israeli journalist who praised IDF soldiers' deaths released to house arrest". Haaretz.com. Archived from the original on 2025-07-13. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  21. ^ Summers, Charlie (2025-07-10). "Far-left Haredi reporter to be classified as security prisoner, after arrest for celebrating deaths of IDF soldiers — report". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  22. ^ Brison, Amos (2025-07-18). "My journalist friend was arrested by Israel. He won't be the last". +972 Magazine. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  23. ^ a b Borger, Julian (2023-10-22). "'An atmosphere of fear': free speech under threat in Israel, activists say". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  24. ^ England, Andrew (2024-04-02). "Israelis turn on peace activists amid trauma of war". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  25. ^ Diaz, Jaclyn (2023-10-26). "At least 24 journalists have been killed in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza". NPR. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  26. ^ a b c d e Cohen, Ido David (2023-10-15). "Far-right Israelis threaten, attack left-wing journalist who prayed for Gaza victims". Haaretz.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-30. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  27. ^ a b c John, Tara; Beilin, Lottie (2023-12-03). "Why Israel's peace activists are re-evaluating their position on the war". CNN. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  28. ^ a b c d Gessen, Masha (2023-11-08). "Inside the Israeli Crackdown on Speech". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Archived from the original on 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  29. ^ Allsop, Jon (2023-10-17). "The toll on the press so far in Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  30. ^ a b "Israeli journalist who expressed solidarity with Palestinians attacked by mob". Middle East Eye. 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  31. ^ "Israeli Arabs arrested over Gaza social media posts". BBC News. 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  32. ^ England, Andrew (2024-04-02). "Israelis turn on peace activists amid trauma of war". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 2024-04-03. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  33. ^ Soussi, Alasdair (2023-11-02). "Pro-Palestinian Israelis face threats, but vow to keep fighting for peace". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  34. ^ Scheindlin, Dahlia (2023-11-12). "Israel: The Left in Peril". The New York Review of Books. Archived from the original on 2023-11-13. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  35. ^ Allsop, Jon (2023-10-17). "The toll on the press so far in Israel, Gaza, and Lebanon". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  36. ^ "Israel's War on Journalists". Jewish Currents. 2023-11-15. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  37. ^ Mandour, Mohamed; Daoud, Doja; Culebras, Ignacio Miguel Delgado; Alsharif, Samir (2025-02-04). "Attacks, arrests, threats, censorship: The high risks of reporting the Israel-Gaza war". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  38. ^ Borger, Julian (2023-10-22). "'An atmosphere of fear': free speech under threat in Israel, activists say". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  39. ^ Gessen, Masha (2023-11-08). "Inside the Israeli Crackdown on Speech". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Archived from the original on 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  40. ^ Goldman, Lisa (2023-11-01). "Israel's Freedom of Expression Falls Victim to the War in Gaza". New Lines Magazine. Retrieved 2025-05-13.
  41. ^ Landsmann, Carolina (2025-03-14). "Israel Frey's persecution exposes Israel's intolerance for dissent". Haaretz.com. Archived from the original on 2025-03-14. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  42. ^ "Sight of Hamas fighters celebrating in Gaza chills Israelis". Middle East Eye. 2025-01-21. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
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