Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit discovered last week that anonymous individuals had desecrated the gravestone of his father Baruch. The Justice Ministry said on Thursday that “the attorney general reported to the Israel Police some 10 days ago about deliberate vandalism of his father’s gravesite.”
“It should be clarified that the late Mandelblit’s tombstone remains intact, but exhibits signs of corruption that were probably created by using some kind of tool to damage the inscription on the tombstone, said the ministry, noting that “the attorney general is not aware of the background to the incident.”
Many in Israeli politics were quick to express shock at the event.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, shortly before taking off on a diplomatic visit to Brazil, that “this is a shocking act that must be condemned sternly,” and noted in a somewhat self-centered manner: “What’s interesting is the timing of this evening’s report, right after the fake headlines attributed to me.”
The headlines had to do with individuals in Netanyahu’s circle threatening the AG not to indict the PM before the elections. If the AG did, so went the report, he would encounter a fierce personal attack on himself and his office.
It’s not easy being the AG in any Western democracy, apparently.
Like Netanyahu, a long list of political leaders immediately pointed out that the destruction of the tombstone (which according to pictures may or may not have been an accident) was a deliberate attack on them.
Labor Party Chairman Avi Gabbay said: “When you encourage violence against the left and threaten an AG with bullying, it’s no wonder that people take the law into their own hands. We saw where this led in 1995. It’s the same man and the insinuations are the same.”
It should be noted that in 1995, a prime minister was assassinated, and in the year 2018, the gravestone of the father of the AG was intentionally or unintentionally damaged. Gabbay was insinuating that Netanyahu, blamed by the loony left for the Rabin assassination, was also behind the gravestone incident.
Off-the-wall hysteria, thy name is Avi Gabbay?
The Labor chairman, who has so far managed to reduce his party’s poll predictions from 24 to 9 Knesset seats, did not miss a beat and declared: “The violence, the threats and the bullying against the rule of law must also be changed, and on April 9 we should and will replace this government and this behavior.”
Not if his fellow party members find a good bus to throw him under first…
“Have we not learned anything? Incitement exacts very dangerous prices!” tweeted former defense minister Moshe Ya’alon, adding, “I strongly condemn the desecration of the grave of the father of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and expect that the law enforcement authorities will quickly lay their hands on those responsible.”
Based on Ya’alon’s history with announcements to the media, those responsible are probably hilltop youths whom the Shin Bet must arrest by their dozens and torture them in its dungeons, as it did after the arson in the Duma village July 2015. Ya’alon was quick to point the finger with unrivaled certainty at those youngsters, and the trial in their case is in its fourth year with ever-diminishing results.
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said, “I am sorry that there are those who do not shun such despicable measures.”
In other words, in her opinion, the offenders were left-wing activists who hated Mandelblit for not bringing Bibi down through legal means.
“Without a doubt, a red line was crossed here and I expect Israel Police to bring those responsible to justice soon,” Shaked said, probably realizing there’s no chance those “responsible” will be found, let alone be prosecuted.
“The destruction of the tomb of Baruch Mandelblit z”l is a despicable act by despicable people. I instructed Israel Police to do everything possible to reach the criminals who committed the act and bring them to justice,” said Minister of Internal Security Gilad Erdan.
“I expect the political leadership to unite in condemning this act, which crossed a red line, and not to try to exploit it for political ends,” Erdan added, exploiting the event for political ends.
In view of the assessment that the early elections would prevent the Attorney General’s issuing of a decision in cases 1000, 2000 and 4000 against Netanyahu, the justice ministry clarified this week that “the process of working on the investigation files pertaining to the prime minister continues as planned.”
“This is an orderly and professional work process that is not dependent on political events,” the ministry’s spokesperson added.
Kan, Israel’s Public Broadcasting Corporation, reported Friday morning that the State Prosecutor’s Office is determined to file its indictments against Netanyahu even before the elections.
A close associate of Netanyahu said in the same broadcast that the prime minister is determined to exhaust the legal process and would continue to serve until the end of the Supreme Court’s hearing on his appeal of his convictions.