Far-right extremists associated with Israel's racist Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit) party, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, violently confronted left-wing activists in Tel Aviv on Thursday evening, October 15, reportedly attempting to storm the election headquarters of the Joint List, the electoral alliance bringing together Arab and Jewish left-wing forces. According to the Israeli communist newspaper Zo Haderekh, around ten far-right thugs, including Mordechai David and Victor Shariki, forced their way into the Left Bank Club, a venue that also houses local branches of the Communist Party of Israel (Maki) and the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality (Hadash).
The incident occurred during the premiere screening of a film organized by the anti-militarist network Mesarvot. Organizers reported that the attackers physically assaulted activists and young people attending the event. After being expelled from the building, they allegedly returned, shouting inflammatory slogans. Witnesses said the extremists attempted to reach the floor housing the Joint List's election campaign headquarters.
The Joint List strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a dangerous escalation of political violence and a direct threat to the integrity of the electoral process.
“Right-wing thugs think they can achieve through violence and intimidation what they cannot achieve at the ballot box. It won't help them,” declared Joint List chairman Professor Yousef Jabareen.
Hadash lawmaker Ofer Cassif demanded an immediate police investigation and the arrest of those responsible, while Hadash activists filed a formal complaint. Police reportedly arrived only after the attackers had been removed.
Jabareen also called on Israel's police commissioner to act against the perpetrators and demonstrate that the police do not serve Ben-Gvir's political interests, insisting that proximity to a government minister must not grant anyone immunity.
The attack comes amid a series of reported acts of intimidation and violence by supporters of Israel's right-wing government against opposition activists. According to Zo Haderekh, several such incidents occurred across the country earlier in the week, without arrests.
The assault on premises used by communist and Jewish-Arab political organizations highlights the increasingly hostile climate facing forces opposing racism, occupation and the policies of Israel's far-right government.
The Joint List strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a dangerous escalation of political violence and a direct threat to the integrity of the electoral process.
“Right-wing thugs think they can achieve through violence and intimidation what they cannot achieve at the ballot box. It won't help them,” declared Joint List chairman Professor Yousef Jabareen.
Hadash lawmaker Ofer Cassif demanded an immediate police investigation and the arrest of those responsible, while Hadash activists filed a formal complaint. Police reportedly arrived only after the attackers had been removed.
Jabareen also called on Israel's police commissioner to act against the perpetrators and demonstrate that the police do not serve Ben-Gvir's political interests, insisting that proximity to a government minister must not grant anyone immunity.
The attack comes amid a series of reported acts of intimidation and violence by supporters of Israel's right-wing government against opposition activists. According to Zo Haderekh, several such incidents occurred across the country earlier in the week, without arrests.
The assault on premises used by communist and Jewish-Arab political organizations highlights the increasingly hostile climate facing forces opposing racism, occupation and the policies of Israel's far-right government.