Netanyahu rejects his son’s comments about prosecutors and treason
Prime Ministerial candidate Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday rejected comments by his son suggesting that prosecutors execute him for the charges against him, saying everyone is free to speak.
His statement came a day after Yair Netanyahu said police officers and prosecutors had committed “treason” – a crime punishable by death – and should be sentenced to death to oust his father, who is currently on trial for corruption. overturned the will of the people.”
“I love my son Yair, an independent man with his own opinions,” Netanyahu said on his Twitter account. “Although everyone has the right to criticize, I do not agree with what he said that was published yesterday. »
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A few hours later, the prosecution said in a harsh statement that it “takes the verbal and physical attacks very seriously” against the officers, adding that “unfortunately, in recent days we have again witnessed very few slanderous and provocative comments. legitimacy,” apparently in response to an interview by the prime ministerial candidate’s son.
Yair Netanyahu, son of prime ministerial candidate Benjamin Netanyahu, arrives at a court hearing in the defamation suit of former lawmaker Stav Shaffir in Tel Aviv, November 29, 2022. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
Criticizing the general sentiment by activists that led to “brutal persecution of loyal officers,” the prosecution said that “attempts to smear and deter police officers and prosecutors who work day and night to protect the public are doomed to failure. “.
Orit Korin, director of the Association of Public Prosecutors, warned that the safety of lawyers is increasingly threatened by inflammatory speech.
“The statements made during the last day are a serious provocation, which is unprecedented even by the standards we are used to,” Korin said.
“Just last week, a lawyer was assaulted in the courtroom by a criminally charged person,” he added, referring to the attack in Tel District Court. Aviv, who is currently under investigation.
“We warn that the disaster is only a matter of time. There are those who will go further, interpret everything in a certain way and decide to act. We will not remain silent and silent. »
Yair Netanyahu told Galey Israel radio on Sunday that those responsible had staged a “deliberate coup”.
“This is called a coup, treason. Everyone is invited to consult the laws of the state of Israel and see the punishment for treason: this is not a prison,” he told the radio station.
As the Likud leader’s supporters seek to legitimize the case against him, the comments by the young Netanyahu, who is used to making inflammatory statements, reflect a near-constant attack on law enforcement and the justice system.
Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial in three corruption cases. He is accused of fraud and breach of trust in cases 1000 and 2000, and in cases 4000 of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
READ – State of Israel vs. Netanyahu: Details of Prime Minister’s Indictment
Under Israeli law, treason is punishable by death in some cases, but Israel has only imposed the death penalty for the crime once, when a military court imposed it on IDF officer Meir Tobiansky during the 1948 War of Independence. he was fully acquitted after his death. The only other death sentence since then was against Adolf Eichmann, the architect of the “Final Solution”, who was hanged in 1962 for genocide and crimes against humanity.
Coalition agreements to form a new government include a plan to introduce the death penalty for terrorists.
Self-proclaimed right-wing provocateur Yair Netanyahu regularly posts inflammatory posts and tweets on social media against those he believes have wronged him and his family, sometimes in violation of terms of use and defamation laws.
Yair Netanyahu tweeted later on Sunday that his intention was “to emphasize the seriousness of the crimes committed by those working under Israeli law and nothing else, certainly not to call for harm to anyone.”
The prime ministerial candidate denies any wrongdoing in his case and claims that the charges are the product of a witch hunt by the police and prosecutors, without providing evidence. While he and some of his allies have publicly denied that the announced reforms will affect judicial processes, others see a clear connection.
Newly appointed Prosecutor General Gali Baharav-Miara during a welcome ceremony in Jerusalem on February 8, 2022. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Prosecutor General Gali Baharav-Miara warned that the judicial reform proposals of the new coalition, as well as blitz The ongoing legislation, which includes changes to Israel’s quasi-constitutional basic laws, may make Israel “a democracy in name but not in substance.”
