Mike Pence and Benjamin Netanyahu meeting on January 22. Image by Getty

A Finnish journalist of Palestinian descent is claiming she asked to agree to a strip search Monday at Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office ahead of his visit with Vice President Pence, the Independent reported.

The journalist claims she was asked to remove her bra after being taken behind a curtain for questioning, a pat-down and scanning with a metal detector. She refused to comply and was blocked from attending the meeting.

The Foreign Press Association, which represents international journalists working in Israel and Palestinian territories, issued a statement condemning the search, claiming that this was not an isolated event.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“We understand Israel’s unique security situation,” the association said on Twitter, adding that they “fail to see any good reason for the continued humiliation of professional accredited journalists.”

The incident happened a day before reports that female journalists were segregated and kept behind a low fence at Pence’s visit to the Western Wall.

In 2011, a female journalist from Al Jazeera was also asked to remove her bra ahead of a Netanyahu event, and denied access when she refused.

Netanyahu’s office issued an apology for the Monday incident, claiming security personnel tried to treat the journalist respectfully, according to the Washington Post.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount