Sadi Ben Shitrit, a radical left-wing Israeli activist and one of the leaders of the "Crime Minister" group, compared Prime Minister Netanyahu to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler at a protest on Wednesday.
"In the 1930s, the leader of Germany oppressed the Jews. He behaved just like you", said Ben Shitrit in a video posted on social media. "There is no pardon for [someone so] corrupt. There is no forgiveness for the destruction and abuse of Israelis. In the 1930s, in Germany, there was a bitter enemy of the Jewish people – he behaved just like you, inciting and destroying," he stated.
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Coalition Chairman Miki Zohar condemned Ben Shitrit's statement, saying, he had "crossed a red line by comparing the prime minister to Hitler. It is an act of incitement that is punishable by law. I expect the police to investigate this serious case."
Meanwhile, supporters of the prime minister came under fire on Tuesday for accosting the family of a fallen IDF soldier.
Demonstrators who staged a support rally outside Netanyahu's private residence in Caesarea began, at some point, hurling insults at the Farkash family who live nearby. The family lost their son, Cpt. Tom Farkash, in the 2006 Second Lebanon War and is known to host left-wing demonstrators in their home.
"The fact that you lost a son doesn't give you the right [to host anti-PM protesters]. We will be here as long as you host anarchists under your roof. We will not allow you the freedome of speech you have grown accustomed to," one demonstrator shouted outside the family home.
Turning her attention to the soldier's mother, the protester said, "She abuses IDF soldiers. Yes, look at her, she's used to abusing them. I would strip her of her Israeli citizenship. I wouldn't let her stay here for one more minute."
Senior politicians from across the political spectrum expressed outrage at the incident.
"What happened in front of the Farkash family home is not a protest. This is not our way," President Reuven Rivlin tweeted.
The Likud issued a statement on behalf of the prime minister, condeming the incident: "As someone who experienced the anguish of loss, Prime Minister Netanyahu has always been careful to respect all bereaved families, and this is how everyone should act, on the Right and Left.
"Regardless, everyone must respect the High Court of Justice's ruling stating that it is forbidden to protest less than 300 meters [yards] from the house of a public figure, a ruling that is violated daily outside the prime minister's home in Caesarea."
Blue and White leader Defense Minister Benny Gantz also condemend the incident, tweeting, "As someone who has lost many brothers in arms, I feel ashamed. Some lines cannot be crossed. The incitment and polarization will lead us nowhere,"
Responding to the protesters, Anat Farkash, the fallen soldier's mother, said that while Netanyahu is a public figure and can afford to protect his residence, it was "shameful that the Israel Police allowed protesters to stand outside the home of private citizens." The prime minister's house, she added, "has fences, blakcout curtains and protective measures. For us, the average citizen they [the police] allow [protesters] to spew hatred for an hour.
"Dear Likudniks, our Tom died for you, too. We all deserve better," she said.
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