Activist posts private numbers of Israeli president and cabinet members
Details for private details of politicians posted online this week, with the activist responsible describing it as a 'public service'
The phones of Israeli politicians across the political spectrum began ringing off the hook this weekend after a list of their private numbers was published online.
President Reuven Rivlin, Ministers Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked and opposition leader Tzipi Livni were among those whose numbers were on the list, which rapidly spread across the country via WhatsApp.
Barak Cohen, the attorney and political activist who compiled the list, explained in a Facebook post that he believed that his actions were a “public service” and urged his social media followers to distribute the numbers “so that every citizen can benefit from accessible communications with his [public] servants.”
Cohen’s post is an example of doxxing, the practice of publishing people’s personal details, such as addresses and phone numbers, on the internet, often for purposes of harassment. In his case, Cohen insisted that he was making Israel’s elected representatives more accessible to their constituents.
Not all of those on the list appreciated the public service, however.
Likud MK Sharren Haskel said that while she has always tried to be open and accommodating to the public, following the leak she would no longer answer phone calls from unidentified numbers.
— Sharren Haskel שרן (@SharrenHaskel) August 16, 2018
Tzipi Livni noted that the number posted as hers actually belonged to someone else and requested that people not harass her.
ברשימת הטלפונים של חברי הכנסת שפורסמה בקבוצות הווטסאפ, פורסם תחת השם שלי גם מספר טלפון נוסף של מישהי אחרת שמוטרדת בימים בהם היא נמצאת בנסיבות משפחתיות מצערות וקשות. מבקשת שלא להטריד וממי שפרסם את כל מספרי הטלפון להעביר גם את ההודעה הזאת.
— ציפי לבני (@Tzipi_Livni) August 18, 2018
Oren Hazan, a Likud MK known for stunts such as breaking diplomatic protocol in order to take a selfie with U.S. President Donald Trump, had a different take. In a tweet, he wrote that he wanted to thank Cohen.
“Thanks to him I was privileged to discover again how much love and sympathy I have from Dan to Eilat and to gather a huge crowd of supporters who joined my path,” he wrote, thanking the “thousands” who called him with words of encouragement.
“I’m here for you, feel free to call.”
את מוצ"ש הזה אני רוצה לפתוח בתודה לברק כהן, האיש שהפיץ את רשימת המספרים שלנו הח"כים.
בזכותו זכיתי לגלות שוב כמה אהדה ואהבה יש לי מדן ועד אילת ולאסוף קהל תומכים ענק שהצטרף לדרך.
בעיקר בתודה ענקית לאלפים שהתקשרו לחזק, לתמוך ולומר מילה טובה. אני כאן בשבילכם, תרגישו חופשי להתקשר…
— אורן חזן (@oren_haz) August 18, 2018
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.