Ben-Artzi: The tools exist
Photo: Michael Kramer
Ben-Artzi laying flowers with sister Noa
Photo: Amos Ben-Gershom
Rabin's grandson: Extreme right trying to paralyze democracy
Yonatan Ben-Artzi says that campaign to release his grandfather's assassin represents 'terrorism within Israel;' calls for serious action to be taken against campaign financers
Twelve years after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, Yonatan Ben-Artzi, his grandson, is troubled by the propaganda being disseminated by extreme-right activists trying to obtain the release of his grandfather's assassin, Yigal Amir.
Ben Artzi accused this group of people of "spreading hate not only against Rabin, but against leaders (elected) since his murder—including our present prime minister".
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In a conversation with Ynet, Rabin's grandson expressed his amazement at the extreme right's campaign—with the active participation of singer Ariel Zilber—in which relatives and friends of Amir call for his release.
"These propaganda tapes are being made by a group of people who are being financed by crazy wealthy rightist activists," Ben-Artzi said.
He referred to the recent media attention surrounding a video calling for Yigal Amir's release and information about his wife and soon-to-be-born child as "an insane asylum".
Ben-Artzi went on to say that he was convinced that the majority of the public did not identify with this group, but added that the government must still do something about it.
"I am not in the opposition of the current decision-makers in Israel, but the necessary tools are available for use. I think that there is a need to take severe measures against this group, especially those financing this effort—this represents the funding of terrorism inside Israel."
"Every worthwhile financial contribution to anti-democratic terrorists needs to be stopped," he continued. "Within the Israeli legal system, there are many options to do this. I am assuming that the leader of the country knows the tools that he has at his disposal—and I hope he will use them in the near future."
Avi Dichter, minister of internal security, said Tuesday morning that he would "do everything possible to ensure that Yigal Amir will rot in jail until his final day".
The video of Amir's initial interrogation by police after the assassination in 1995 was released to the public on Monday. Ben-Artzi said he believed the video was "a reminder to all of us not to forget the purpose of the assassination and the intentions of this group that is carrying out these diabolical acts against our democracy".
