Far-right activist Mordechai David has been barred from contacting former Supreme Court president Aharon Barak or any other individuals connected to the blocking of Barak’s car last week, under restrictive conditions imposed following his questioning by police.
Israel Police announced on Monday that David was questioned on Sunday in connection with a series of complaints, on suspicion of disturbing public order, trespass, and assault.
He was released under several conditions, including a 30-day ban on contacting anyone involved in the incident, as well as release on personal recognizance.
David has a short but storied history of harassing journalists, but escalated his conduct several weeks ago, when he and another activist, Roi Star, allegedly attacked the partner of left-wing social activist Sigal Shukrun at her home. According to police complaints, the two struck the man with a metal rod after he came outside to ask them to leave.
Last week, David and several other men - some of them masked - blocked Barak’s car as he was being driven by his daughter while leaving a conference organized by the Movement for Quality Government in Tel Aviv.
Barak - the 'dark dictator'
David filmed the encounter and circulated it online to his followers, referring to Barak as a “dark dictator.” Barak’s daughter later filed a police report.
Barak, 89, is a Holocaust survivor and one of Israel’s most prominent jurists. He served as president of the Supreme Court from 1995 to 2006 and retired from the bench nearly two decades ago. In 2024, he agreed to serve as Israel’s ad hoc judge at the International Court of Justice during proceedings initiated by South Africa.
In recent months, David has been involved in multiple confrontations targeting journalists and public figures identified with criticism of the government.
A few months ago, following hearings in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s criminal trial, David tracked and followed independent journalist Orly Bar-Lev to her car, and Channel 13 correspondent Aviad Glickman to a train station. He has also confronted Channel 12 reporter Guy Peleg in connection with reporting on the Sde Teiman detention facility leak.