Chief Justice Beinish
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Beinish urges all-out war to protect judges
Speaking at memorial for murdered judge, Supreme Court president says violence against judges should resemble war on 'other kinds of terror'
Israeli authorities should declare an all-out war on violence against judges, showing similar determination to that shown in the fight against terrorism, Supreme Court Chief Justice Dorit Beinish said Monday.
"In the war against this kind of terror, the relevant government bodies must show similar determination to the one they showed in the fight against other types of terror," she said.
Speaking in a ceremony commemorating Judge Adi Azar, who was murdered by criminals in 2004, Beinish also warned that wild verbal attacks on judges serve to legitimize violence against them later on.
"Unfair tongue-lashing against courts and judges that is personally motivated and not substantive may grant public and social legitimacy to the physical violence towards judges," she said.
Also speaking at the event, Justice Minister Yaakov Ne'eman stated that whoever targets the heart of the justice system should be punished severely.
"The murderers of judges should never be released. This is my view," the minister said.
Addressing the murder of Judge Azar, Beinish said that it served to increase awareness of the physical danger Israeli judges are exposed to.
"Israel's judges are not deterred by the threats and will continue to maintain their independence, which is vital for Israeli democracy and guarantees ongoing protection of the rule of law," she said. "It's important to note that Adi (Azar) was chosen as a random victim, yet since his murder we need to understand that his killing was an act of criminal terrorism."
