Journalist Arnon Segal was taken in for questioning by the police on the eve of the holiday, after he documented his son carrying a goat in Jerusalem for the Passover sacrifice.
Segal was questioned, fingerprinted and asked to sign a removal order from the Old City of Jerusalem. Since he refused to be removed, he was summoned to a hearing that will be held today (Friday) at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court.
Segal is represented by attorney Nati Rom of Mhonu.
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Segal attacked the investigation: "I was summoned for questioning for taking a photo of my son bringing a lamb for the Passover sacrifice. I arrived, was questioned, had my fingerprints taken, was photographed as a particularly high-ranking criminal, and was summoned for a court hearing on Friday. They demanded that I agree to be removed from the Old City for two days. I firmly refused and they gave in. Creator of the world, look, and please give us a Passover sacrifice.".
Segal also attacked the journalists' organization for its silence: "I am a journalist who has been covering the Temple Mount for nearly 15 years and in this framework every year accompanies those bringing the Passover sacrifice and their arrest. This year, because I photographed - I just photographed - my sons bringing a lamb, I was interrogated, my fingerprints and profile picture were taken, and I was summoned for a legal hearing tomorrow. Where are the journalists' organizations? Or are they only active there when it comes to Al Jazeera.".
Arrest of those bringing lambs for Passover sacrifice. Democratic Israel pic.twitter.com/URbEnO3ldt
— Arnon Segal (@arnonsegal1) April 1, 2026
The arrest of the children who brought the lamb. Photo: Arnon Segal
Attorney Nati Rom attacked the investigation: "An investigation of a journalist for legitimate documentation on a city street should disturb anyone to whom freedom of expression and freedom of the press are important. The Israel Police have lost all proportion in their unreasonable handling of the entire issue of transporting goats on the streets of Jerusalem, as a tool for conveying a message and demanding freedom of worship.".
""Unfortunately, when it comes to the Temple Mount, freedom of expression and the right to protest end, to the point of interrogating journalists who cover the transportation of the goats. I call on the Israel Police to come to their senses and withdraw from holding the hearing tomorrow.".
Arnon Segal is the brother of commentator Amit Segal and the son of journalist Hagai Segal.
Arnon, married, father of eight and living in Jerusalem, serves as a correspondent for Makor Rishon and the Shabbat newsletter 'Olam Katan'. He is a writer, educator and activist for Jewish aliyah to the Temple Mount.
