In the past 24 hours, the police have come under severe criticism from MKs and left-wing organizations following their decision to summon journalist Aviad Glickman, Channel 13's legal correspondent, for questioning on suspicion of assaulting a staff member of the Prime Minister's wife, Sara Netanyahu.
The incident occurred as he was leaving the hearing room of a labor court in Netanyahu's defamation trial against an employee at the Prime Minister's residence, Sylvie Gancia.
Glickman was recorded pushing the employee from Sara Netanyahu's team.
This evening (Thursday), the police responded to the criticism and clarified that the decision stems from reasonable suspicion, based on a detailed complaint, a medical document indicating sabotage, eyewitnesses, and several visual documents.
The police stated: "Following malicious slander by interested parties - against the head of the Investigations and Intelligence Division in the police - we would like to emphasize that, like any decision, including his decision to approve the interrogation of the journalist, is based on solid evidence of reasonable suspicion, including a detailed complaint, a medical document indicating sabotage, eyewitnesses and a number of visual documents - and not on whims or extraneous considerations.".
The police added that "after the head of the VIP investigated and believed that the alleged act was not within the scope of the reporter's work and was not for the purpose of fulfilling his duties, there was a need to grant the investigative unit's request to summon him for questioning with a warning and allow him to give his version of the incident.".
The police scolded the journalists and politicians who criticized: "All those slanderers would do well to focus on the facts before giving free rein to irresponsible writing and a clear attempt to create a false narrative.".
The police attached a photograph of the injury to the employee's hand - which was received by the police.
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