‘Death to Bibi’ written on Tel Aviv sidewalk

Edelstein: When will we understand that incitement leads to violence?

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
Updated: FEBRUARY 5, 2018 00:35
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Likud leaders denounced graffiti calling for “Death to Bibi” found on a sidewalk in downtown Tel Aviv Sunday morning as incitement to violence.
The words, scrawled in Hebrew with white chalk, were removed by municipal workers, and police opened an investigation.
Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud) promptly condemned the incident on Twitter.
“When will we understand that incitement leads to violence?” he wrote. “It is permissible to criticize, it is permissible to disagree – incitement is prohibited.”

Transportation Minister Israel Katz (Likud) condemned the graffiti as “crossing a red line.”
“Graffiti in the center of Tel Aviv with the slogan ‘Death to Bibi’ is serious incitement and crossing a red line – whether the background is personal, ideological, or opposed to the expulsion of labor infiltrators,” he said, adding, “We are approaching the edge of the abyss.”
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) called for all politicians to condemn the threat.
“Death threats addressed to the prime minister demand condemnation from all sides of the political spectrum, not just from the Right wing” said Hotovely. “Calling for murder and violence is dangerous and the inciters should be brought to justice.”
Noting the use of a mock guillotine during protests several weeks ago against government corruption, Communications Minister Ayoub Kara (Likud) warned that such incitement can lead to deadly action.
“The incitement against the prime minister must stop, now and immediately!” he said. “Unfortunately, there will always be people who will do something. This incitement must stop, and the sooner the better.”


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