Incitement against President Rivlin
Crowds rally outside Rivlin's home against incitement
President Rivlin's wife, Nechama greets 100 demonstrators showing solidarity after he comes under attack following decision not to pardon Elor Azaria; 'I want to express my sincere appreciation for what you have done to show support for Ruvi.'
Demonstrators assembled outside the President’s Residence in Jerusalem Friday to express solidarity with President Reuven Rivlin after he was targeted in what many considered to be an online incitement campaign
against him following his decision not to pardon
the former IDF soldier Elor Azaria.
Azaria was convicted of manslaughter earlier this year and imprisoned for shooting to death a neutralized terrorist in March 2016. His trial, conviction and sentencing rocked the country, creating a dichotomy of ardent supporters and those calling for punitive measures against him.
The demonstrators, numbering around 100 people, waved placards and signs bearing supportive slogans such as: “the nation is with you” and “bring us hope.”
Elor Azaria and Presiden Rivlin (Photo: Yoav Dudkevitch, AFP)
The people participating in the display of support were eventually greeted by Rivlin’s wife, Nechama.
“I want to express my sincere appreciation for what you have done to show support for Ruvi,” she said, using the name of affection used for her husband by close associates and family. “We are both extremely grateful to you all.”
After she made her remarks, the crowds called out to Mrs. Rivlin: “We have no other country.”
Responding to an extended article in Yedioth Ahronoth about the incitement that was leveled against Rivlin online, Zionist Union MK Itzik Shmuli accused Likud officials of being the chief architects of the campaign.
“The unbridled hatred, which has already led to a political murder, is rearing its head and raging again,” Shmuli said in reference to the assassination of former Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin.
Incitement campaign against president Rivlin
“Instead of legitimate criticism, there is wild incitement that is being led by ministers and MKs from the Likud against anyone who is not prepared, whether on the Right or the Left, to follow the line of attacking the president or law-enforcement officials,” he continued.
“Netanyahu supports this, thinking that it will serve him in his investigations and in politics.”
Shortly after Rivlin came under harsh criticism in the aftermath of his decision, Prime Minister Netanyahu rebuffed accusations it necessarily constituted incitement.
