Eitam gets slap on the wrist for anti-Arab remarks

Attorney general says MK's call to expel Arabs from West Bank and Knesset border on criminal offense, decides not to investigate, but gives severe warning

Aviram Zino
Published: 12.28.06, 19:40 / Israel News

Attorney General Menachem Mazuz has decided on Thursday, that National Union-NRP Knesset Member Effie Eitam's anti-Arab remarks border on criminal offense.

Nonetheless, he has decided that a criminal investigation will not be opened against Eitam at the current time. Eitam was warned that the next time he makes similar remarks, he may be investigated.

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During the second Lebanon war, a few months ago, Eitam participated in a memorial service for First Lieutenant Amihai Merhavia, who had been killed in Lebanon.

During the service he made harsh remarks against Arabs saying: "We will have to expel most of the Judea and Samaria Arabs from here. We cannot be with all these Arabs…We will have to make another decision, to remove the Israeli Arabs from the political system."

Following these remarks, Arab MKs turned to the attorney general and demanded a criminal investigation be opened against Eitam for incitement to racism.

On Thursday, Deputy State Prosecutor Advocate Shai Nitzan addressed Eitam in a letter notifying him that it has been decided that no criminal investigation would be opened against him.

'Attorney general's stance incomprehensible'

The letter said: "Following these publications and complaints we have received, the State Prosecutor's Office conducted an examination in order to determine whether or not the remarks – which, in fact, turned out to have been made – raise suspicion of incitement to racism."

"After examination, the attorney general has come to the conclusion that your remarks seem to constitute a criminal offense," Nitzan continued.

"Nonetheless, despite the severity of the situation, the Attorney General has decided that this is not the time to open a criminal investigation on the matter. This is due to the very minimized prosecution policy on such matters, especially when it comes to remarks made by MKs."

Despite the decision not to open an investigation, Nitzan concluded the letter with a clear warning to Eitam: "The attorney general requested I inform you that future repetition of similar statements may lead to criminal procedures against you."

MK Eitam responded by saying that "The attorney general's stance is incomprehensible and borders on an attempt to shut people up and harm freedom of expression.

"The prosecution system would be better off dealing with investigating and prosecuting Arab MK's who visited enemy states at a time of war and expressed support and empathy for acts of terror against Israel's citizens," he added.

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