Prof Weiss apologizes to Hebron commander for cursing incident
Bar Ilan professor regrets hoping commander's 'mother be bereaved, wife widowed' in remorseful letter of apology. 'I should have found the way to control my tongue,' he says
Prof Hillel Weiss, who was documented by Ynet cursing IDF Hebron Brigade commander Colonel Yehuda Fox during the evacuation of Hebron settlers last month, sent the commander a personal letter of apology Tuesday.
"I feel I must apologize for my hurtful outburst and for cursing you… there is no doubt that even in the heat of the moment I should have found the way to control myself, control my tongue."
Weiss confronted Fox during an IDF evacuation of Jewish settlers in Hebron, saying "may your mother be bereaved, your wife widowed, your children orphaned and may you be struck down in the next war and any memory of you be erased."
Weiss' words caused mass outrage and he was denounced by senior political and military officials and much of the public, including his alma mater – Bar Ilan University.
At some point, a police investigation was launched in an attempt to find out whether or not he should be charged with incitement.
Weiss initially apologized for his words in a letter to IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi and Police Commissioner Dudi Cohen, a few days after the incident.
In his letter to Fox he said: "I deeply regret the horrible words I said to you and your precious family… in these days of atonements I ask each and every one of you to forgive me and I pray that God forgives me.
"I don't know if I am worthy of God's forgiveness… I pray for the IDF – that you return from your missions safe and sound… may all my trespassings be forgiven and may you be signed and sealed in the book of life," he wrote.
