WATCH: Netanyahu Unleashes on Protesters, Calls Them "Fascist Phalanxes"
In a scathing address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fiercely condemned protestors for an arson attack near his residence that destroyed a reservist's car, calling their actions a step toward political violence and a failure of law enforcement.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a video statement on Wednesday, in which he launched a severe attack on protestors who set fire to trash cans near his Jerusalem home, an act that resulted in a reservist's car being destroyed. He accused the protestors of behaving like "fascist phalanxes" and crossing every line of legitimate protest.
"In a democracy, protesting is a legitimate thing," Netanyahu began. "But what is happening in the organized, political, and funded protests against the government, which have crossed every boundary, they are destroying property, blocking roads, and making the lives of millions of citizens miserable. They are chasing after elected officials and their children, to their kindergartens and schools. They threaten to murder me and my family every day, and now they are also engaged in arson."
Netanyahu specifically referred to the arson attack on Har-Lapp Street, near his home, where a fire started by protestors spread to and destroyed the car of reservist Captain Yoav Bar-Shei. He noted that Bar-Shei is a father of three daughters who has served over 260 days this year in Gaza and Lebanon. He also mentioned that the reservist is the grandson of the late Justice and Finance Minister Yaakov Ne'eman. The Prime Minister then directly addressed the protestors. "Don't do us any favors. Don't make us laugh. You talk about democracy? You talk and behave exactly like fascists," he said.
Netanyahu attributed the escalating violence to a lack of law enforcement. "What is happening here is simple: there is no enforcement, and when there is no enforcement, there is an escalation. They started by breaking through checkpoints, then trying to break through fences, and then they shot flares that almost burned a security guard to death near my home, and now they are making a ring of fire." He concluded his message with a demand to law enforcement officials, stating, "This has to change. This is what I demand from the law enforcement authorities. This is what the people of Israel demand in order to maintain a democracy here."
In response to the Prime Minister's accusations, Ophir Breslavsky, the father of Rom Breslavsky, a hostage held in Gaza for over 698 days, spoke at a protest rally outside Netanyahu's residence. "Shame on you, Prime Minister, for calling us phalanxes," Breslavsky said. "I won't let you bring my son back in a body bag. While we are here, you are toasting? Shame on you." Other family members of hostages also spoke out, with the mother of another hostage, Nimrod Cohen, telling the Prime Minister to "take off the pin," a reference to the yellow hostage pin worn by many in solidarity with those still being held in Hamas captivity.
The Families Headquarters for the Return of the Hostages also released a statement in response to President Donald Trump's comments that ignored the dead hostages. They stressed that the mission would not be over for the Israeli people until all 48 hostages, both those who survived and those who were murdered, were returned home.