Israel Police opened an investigation on Tuesday into Otzma Yehudit MK Zvika Fogel over incitement to terrorism. Fogel was set to appear on Tuesday before the Police’s Lahav 433 national crimes and corruption unit for questioning.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, the head of Fogel’s party, claimed that the investigation was part of Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara’s persecution of Otzma Yehudit and other right-wing actors. He further argued that there was a double standard, since the Left, which had incited violence over the ongoing judicial reform, was not being investigated.
The announcement of the police investigation comes almost two weeks after the Attorney-General’s Office announced its own inquiry into Fogel’s alleged incitement to violence in connection to the Huwara settler riots.
Labor leader Merav Michaeli had appealed to the attorney-general to investigate Fogel over what she called “extraordinarily extreme statements” made not long after the attacks.
Fogel had made controversial statements on radio stations the day after the riots, which were ostensibly conducted in retribution for the terrorist murders of Israeli brothers Hallel and Yagel Yaniv the same day.
“Yesterday a terrorist came from Huwara – Huwara is closed and burnt. That is what I want to see. Only thus can we obtain deterrence,” Fogel said on Radio Galey Israel on February 27. “The act that the residents of Judea and Samaria carried out yesterday is the strongest deterrent that the State of Israel has had since Operation Defensive Shield. After a murder like yesterday, villages should burn when the IDF does not act.”
Fogel has denied that he had intended to aid illegal actions, and said that his tweets and comments are available to show it.
Since the initial riots, Israeli settlers and Palestinians clashed again at the site last Monday, on the Jewish holiday of Purim.
Tzvi Joffre contributed to this report.