A senior graphic designer caused a great deal of anger and outrage today (Wednesday) when he published an inciting post in which he called for gas to be pumped into meetings. He uploaded to his Facebook account a screenshot of a letter from the Haaretz website, in which it was alleged that the Minister of Torah, Garach Kanievsky, ordered that the Talmud Torah be left open as usual during the closure. He added the following shocking remarks: Why not lock the doors and inject gas? “
Things got a lot of angry reactions on social media, and the writer was quick to delete the post. He later even sent an apology to those who approached him personally and vehemently protested his remarks. However, surfers who searched on social media revealed other outrageous remarks by him in the past, which were directed, among other things, against births in ultra-Orthodox society. Ofek’s executive director, Elad Tzadikov, announced that he would file a complaint against him with the police: “His posts on the Internet constitute a real auto-anti-Semitism and incitement to violence.”
The Deputy Speaker of the Knesset, Moshe Arbel (Shas), wrote a letter to the Attorney General, Avichai Mandelblit, demanding that he immediately order the opening of a criminal investigation against the author of the post for inciting violence against the ultra-Orthodox public. “This is a shocking and sickening publication, the place of which we will not recognize. The publication encourages violence and murder of children and teenagers for no injustice on their part, in the way in which the Nazis murdered the Jews in Europe, and out of indirect justification for their heinous acts. This is a very serious incitement to violence against the ultra-Orthodox population, and especially against children and teenagers who study in ultra-Orthodox educational institutions. “
Arbel added that “in light of the article attached to the terrible text, it can be understood that the advertiser wanted to link the spread of the corona virus and the tragic deaths of more than 3,000 Israelis (including many ultra-Orthodox) and the ultra-Orthodox population, especially its children.” The ultra-Orthodox. “
“Unfortunately, times of crisis often lead to the blame of the minorities and the weak in society. All of us, as well as the legal and prosecution bodies, must be vigilant lest the severe economic and social crisis provide an excuse for incitement, and further violence and harm to ultra-Orthodox and other minorities.
“Section 144D2 of the Penal Code provides for a prohibition on incitement to violence, including a call to commit an act of violence, words of praise, sympathy or encouragement of violence or identification with it. Of a request, as the Attorney General and as Deputy State Attorney, to order the immediate opening of a criminal investigation for incitement to violence against the ultra-Orthodox public. “
“His words speak for themselves, were published on a social network for the general public without restriction of access, and in a time of economic crisis, health and social unparalleled hardship, an hour of heatwave and much public anger. Under these circumstances, there is indeed a practical possibility that unbearable expressions and pointing the finger of blame at entire publics will lead to acts of violence. The prosecution, as well as public figures, have a heavy responsibility to help calm the winds and take strong action against instigators and racists in accordance with the law, “Arbel signed his letter.