Livni blasts Netanyahu over 'raging incitement'
Furor over arrest of Kirya Arba rabbi still raging: Opposition chairwoman says leadership should do more to 'clarify everyone is equal before law, including rabbis'
Opposition Chairwoman Tzipi Livni (Kadima) challenged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the handling of Kiryat Arba Rabbi Dov Lior's arrest, release and subsequent riots.
The opposition leader said Tuesday she expects the prime minister, the justice minister and the entire leadership "to show courage and set aside their political considerations.
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"The prime minister's silence at a time like this is unacceptable. I expect him, and every one of us – from the Right and the Left – to speak out against this incitement and make clear that everyone is equal in the eyes of the law, including rabbis," she said.
"In the past 24 hours there has been a public debate over who is the source of authority in the country – the judge or the rabbi. No one likes seeing a rabbi being taken into custody, myself included.
"I don't like seeing a prime minister being investigated or a president go to prison, but the State of Israel must continue to be a law-abiding state where everyone is equal before the law," Livni noted.
Following Rabbi Lior's arrest, many of his supporters took to the streets of Jerusalem and blocked the entrance to the capital on Highway 1.
Later, the right-wing activists stormed the High Court of Justice and tried to break into the building. They continued their protest in front of Deputy State Prosecutor Shai Nitzan's residence in Jerusalem.
On Monday evening, hundreds gathered at the entrance to the city and greeted Rabbi Lior in dances and jubilation. Two police officers were lightly injured during the event.
On Tuesday the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court released 20 of the protestors under limited restrictions.
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