Oren Persico

The Seventh Eye staff writer. Read the original articles in Hebrew here

20.07.2025
Supreme court president Yitzhak Amit and Supreme court justices arrive for a court hearing on the Israeli government law to shut down Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel, at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on July 13, 2025. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90

Judge Sohlberg: "CNN Should Be Treated Same as Al Jazeera"

Supreme Court deliberated in expanded panel on petition against "Al Jazeera Law" • Justice Barak-Erez wondered why the law lacks clear definition of harm to state security, but most of the judges' criticism was directed at the petitioners, who claimed the law is unconstitutional and ineffective, that existing laws exist to deal with harmful broadcasts, and that the government uses security pretext to silence criticism and hide from the public the scenes from Gaza Strip • "What will we do next time CNN does an investigation on Sde Teiman, will we shut down CNN?"

Oren Persico
06.07.2025
Smoke rises from the Gaza Strip, as it seen from the Israeli side of the border, June 25, 2025. Photo by Tsafrir Abayov/Flash90

Israel to Supreme Court: We Will Continue to Ban Journalists from Entering the Strip

After ten months delay, the state provided a response to the petition by the Foreign Press Association • Israel insists on continuing the media siege, claiming that journalists' entry would pose a danger to forces, to Gazans, and to the journalists themselves, and would require adapting border crossings for human passage • The state also argues that there is no obligation under international law to allow coverage and that the association should be satisfied with coordinated visits accompanied by IDF spokesperson • So far, 139 foreign correspondents and 85 Israeli correspondents have entered the Strip in this manner • The state and the court continue to collaborate in delaying the handling of the petition: the hearing has been set for October

Oren Persico
20.06.2025
Israeli Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir visits the site of a building hit by an Iranian ballistic missile in Petah Tikva, Israel, on June 16, 2025. Four people were killed in the strike, and dozens were injured. Photo by Gili Yaari / Flash90

"And then they start surrounding the camera and cursing. And the curses and slurs turn into objects thrown at us"

Since the beginning of the campaign against Iran, police and passersby attack journalists and interfere with their work • These incidents follow incitement by ministers and Knesset members, and the Israeli media joining the incitement by broadcasting false accusations • Arab journalists describe harassment, confiscation of equipment and physical violence - which also spills over to Jewish colleagues • "You speak Arabic, that's immediately Al Jazeera, that's the enemy," says one of them and another adds: "You want to know who films for Al Jazeera? Jews" • The police refused to comment

Oren Persico