AG reluctant to prosecute 'King's Torah' authors

Attorney General unlikely to indict rabbis who penned controversial book, which claims that in certain situations it is permissible to kill non-Jews
Aviad Glickman|
Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein will most likely decline to indict the authors of The "King's Torah ,"a book that claims that in certain situations it is permissible to kill non-Jews, Ynet learned on Thursday.
The book stirred controversy for stating that it is permissible to kill a non-Jew if his presence endangers Jewish life. Some rabbis within the religious community supported the statements while others hinted that the statements were dangerous.
Police launched an investigation into the matter and authors Rabbi Yitzhak Shapira and Rabbi Yosef Elitzur were investigated over suspected incitement to violence and racism.
Other rabbis investigated in connection with the affair included Rabbi Dov Lior, Yitzhak Ginsberg and Rabbi Yaakov Yosef who expressed their support for the book.
Over the last two months the State Prosecutor's Office examined whether there was room to indict the book's authors, something which could create a major furor within the Zionist-religious community.
The prosecutor's office was of the opinion that indictment would be problematic as it is hard to prove that the authors intended to act with violence, and in a case like this, intent must be proven.
The decision is within Weinstein's purview and at the moment it is likely that he will decide not to file indictments.
In addition to the police investigation in the matter, a petition to indict the rabbis was also presented by the Reform movement.
Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter
Comments
The commenter agrees to the privacy policy of Ynet News and agrees not to submit comments that violate the terms of use, including incitement, libel and expressions that exceed the accepted norms of freedom of speech.
""