JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli journalist who tried to infiltrate the Egyptian border with illegal migrants was arrested and may be tried in a military court.
Yotam Feldman, a reporter for Haaretz and several other publications, was working on assignment for Israel’s Channel 10 reporting on African migrants infiltrating into Israel. The migrants and Bedouin guides with whom he was attempting to infiltrate managed to escape, according to reports.
Feldman had no identification papers or money when he was captured; he was carrying a video camera. He injured his hand on a barbed-wire fence at the border, according to reports.
He reportedly had entered Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula legally. Haaretz said in a statement released Monday that Feldman had requested an unpaid 10-day leave to work on an outside project.
The Israeli military is attempting to secure Feldman’s release, Haaretz reported.
Egyptian security officers have killed nine migrants this year attempting to infiltrate the border. Israel has pressured Egypt to halt the flow of migrants.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
