Extreme rightist convicted of supporting terror group
Right-winger Itamar Ben-Gvir charged on four counts of incitement, support of terror organization, found guilty of carrying signs saying 'Kahane was right', 'Expel Arab enemy'. Prosecutors consider requesting jail time
The Jerusalem Magistrates Court convicted right-wing activist Itamar Ben-Gvir of supporting a terror organization and incitement to racism on Monday.
Ben-Gvir was found guilty of carrying a sign saying, "Expel the Arab enemy," (incitement to racism) and a poster saying, "Rabbi Kahane was right, the Arab MKs are the fifth column" (support for a terror organization).
Four indictments for four separate incidents occurring between the years 2001 and 2002 were filed against the rightist, who was convicted of the first two charges.
He was acquitted of waving a banner saying, "Arabs out," due to lack of evidence. He was also found not guilty on the fourth charge of calling "death to Arabs" following a terror attack in Jerusalem, and saying in an interview that outlawing the Kach party was a joke, on the grounds that such statements did not constitute support for a terror organization.
In his verdict, Judge Lee Ran wrote: "I believe an assertion that the defendant's words constituted support of a terror organization may place freedom of expression at the top of a slippery slope in which expressions on the margin of legitimate discourse could be banned."
At the end of the hearing, the State Prosecutor's Office announced it would consider requesting Ben-Gvir serve an active prison term.
Ben-Gvir said in response that he would appeal the verdict and told Ynet, "The same legal system that gave freedom of expression to Bishara and Arab poets is convicting me. Again it is proven that part of Israel's judges are two-faced leftists."
