Goldknopf tries to apologize for his controversial statements

After the outcry caused his insensitive words (to put it mildly), Goldpknof released a recorded video statement, explaining and attempting to apologize.

He said, "I say the following things with great reluctance, but it's a necessity of reality. The newspaper Makor Rishon disgraced, distorted, twisted, wrote, and caused mental anguish toward the families of the great fallen. True, it also caused me great injustice, but I won't tell that story here. The conversation was about the conscription law and no other topic, and then the interviewer said, I'm asking, in Religious Zionism, both those who fight and those who sit [in study], do you understand their pain?

I answered him, their pain should be with us, and our pain will be with us. And I added, "Everywhere you go you'll see how the religious volunteer, even at eighteen years old. Unfortunately, this isn't the first time, I've been burned before, but every interviewee knows there's no value to truth. This newspaper will sell everything for publicity, including the families of the bereaved. I apologize to the bereaved families. Your sons are the most precious.

Your pain is all of our pain. I cry and grieve for every fallen soldier regardless of their origin, every fallen one is holy, may God avenge their blood. During these days between the straits [period of mourning] and the nine days, I am ready to forgive anyone who responds before reading the entire article."