Right-wing activist Baruch Marzel will not face charges over his criticism of controversial Arab MK Hanin Zoabi, Reshet Bet reports.
During the last elections campaign, Marzel called on supporters to show up at a panel in which Zoabi was taking part and “wipe the smile off her face.”
Right-wing activists who attended the panel booed and yelled while Zoabi spoke, and one poured juice on Zoabi as she left the stage. Marzel refused to condemn the man who poured the juice – 28-year-old Artami Karzov – and in fact praised activists for successfully disrupting the panel.
Karzov was later indicted for attacking Zoabi and causing a public disturbance. There were calls to indict Marzel as well, for allegedly encouraging the attack.
Deputy State Prosecutor Amit Aisman said Sunday that while the State Prosecution does not support Marzel’s statements, what he said did not constitute incitement to violence. “Freedom of speech is protected by Israeli law, especially during the elections campaign,” he explained.
Zoabi is one of the most overtly anti-Zionist members of Knesset. During her term in office she has called Israel a racist state, has described IDF soldiers as criminals and terrorists, has argued that Arabs who murdered Jewish children in Judea and Samaria are not terrorists, and has taken part in an effort to end Israel’s naval blockade of Hamas by force.