Channel 13 Anchor Shay Golden Attacked During Filming in Tel Aviv

Israeli media journalist and anchor Shay Golden was physically attacked while filming a report in the HaTikva neighborhood of Tel Aviv. According to footage published on social media, an individual confronted Golden face-to-face, shouting profanities and insults while threatening physical violence.

Addressing the unusual incident, Golden wrote on social media that the encounter left a deep emotional impact. "Today it is a punch, tomorrow it is a gun," Golden wrote. He noted that he tried to calm the assailant down, but the experience was deeply painful. Despite the legal definition of assault, Golden stated that he forgives the attacker, noting that he saw pure hatred in the man's eyes and that such hostility is the core problem in society.

This is not the first time Golden has faced hostility during his journalistic work. In November 2025, while covering the Likud party primaries at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem alongside journalist Lior Keinan and a Channel 13 crew, activists confronted the team with verbal abuse and attempted to drive them away. Reflecting on that incident during a radio interview, Golden remarked on the growing climate of violence in public spaces.

Over recent years, Golden has emerged as a prominent voice in Israeli public discourse, frequently voicing sharp criticisms of the government and political figures. In September, during an appearance on a podcast hosted by Dror Rafael, Golden addressed freedom of speech and the status of Channel 14, where he previously worked. Although critical of the network, Golden firmly stated his opposition to any attempts to shut it down, declaring that he would personally take to the streets to protest against closing any media outlet in the country.