Netanyahu criticized for comments about Rabin Incitement
The PM's Facebook post in, which he attacked claims that he was responsible for incitement that led to former PM Rabin's assassination in 1995, was widely criticized by former and current members of the Knesset.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke out Saturday evening regarding accusations leveled at him for his role in supposedly inciting the hatred that led to the assassination of then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on November 4, 1995.
In a Facebook post, Netanyahu called Rabin's killing a "shocking political murder that all of us condemn," and wrote that, "since the murder, there have been continuous attempts to distort the historical truth and blame me for the incitement that preceded the killing."
A video was added to the post, which Netanyahu claimed contained, "Some of the unequivocal things I said in condemnation of the invective pointed at the prime minister … Judge for yourself."
The video shows – among other things – Netanyahu attempting to calm people in the crowd at a political rally, telling them that Rabin is not a traitor as they were labeling him, and that he should be treated as a political rival rather than an enemy.
Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak responded on Twitter, writing, "(Netanyahu) isn't to blame for the murder of Rabin, but was and is the lead inciter, then in Zion Square and at the 'funeral' in Ra'anana, and today in the responses to Uvda and Weitz, backed by Bitan and whiney posts."
Current Knesset opposition members also responded to the PM's post. MK Revital Swid (Zionist Union) wrote, "The prime minister is denying incitement from 21 years ago, while ignoring systematic incitement that characterizes his conduct today as well. Arabs, leftist organizations, the media, and others are an object of Netanyahu's incitement on a regular basis.
MK Michal Rozin (Meretz) responded as well, writing, "Despite the prime minister's many attempts – history cannot be re-written. Netanyahu is weak in leadership, (and) strong in denial. He was and is the baron of incitement, that's his way and that's how his time in office will be remembered."
Sunday, November 13 marks the official memorial day for Rabin's murder, and will feature ceremonies in schools around the country, as well as an official memorial ceremony on Mount Herzl in Jerusalem.
Itamar Eichner, Amihai Attali, and Tsahi Dabush contributed to this report
