Netanyahu removes divisive post against soccer team
After facing deluge of criticism, Prime Minister Netanyahu removes a Facebook post in which he slammed fans of the Israeli-Arab soccer club Bnei Sakhnin over an unproven report that they booed a moment of silence.
A post by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which he attacked supporters of the Israeli-Arab soccer club Bnei Sakhnin for purported disgraceful behavior during a moment of silence, was removed Thursday evening.
The Prime Minister's Office confirmed that the post was removed at Netanyahu's discretion, but refused to comment further.
The post was taken down five days after it was made, and four days after it became clear it was based on false premises. No apology was made, neither from Netanyahu or the PMO.
"It's a disgrace," Netanyahu's deleted post said. "I expect all public figures, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, to unequivocally denounce this reprehensible behavior."
In response, the soccer club threatened legal action against the premier.
Bnei Sakhnin's legal adviser Mohammad Abu Younes confirmed the matter to Ynet, saying, "We are looking into the matter thoroughly. People should apologize. For a prime minister to do that? He's not just a person off the street. We'll hold a meeting and decide, but it's my thinking—and recommendation—to pursue this all the way."
"That means demanding an apology from Bibi and other people involved in the case. If that doesn't happen, we'll see him in court," Abu Younes cautioned, using the prime minister's nickname.
The team's general manager Khaled Douki added, "After everyone's clear on the fact that no boos were heard, I expect the prime minister to apologize to the people and not incite over something that never happened."
The team itself claimed the only incident taking place was that a group of some 250 children aged 5-7 invited to the game failed to stand as the announcement of the minute's silence was made in Hebrew, which they could not understand.
The referee's report and television cameras also made no mention of any boos or disturbances during the memorial.
This led Arab MKs to strongly attack the premier, and compare the recent post with his assertion that "Arab voters are going to the polls in droves" on Election Day three years ago—which Netanyahu later apologized for.
Joint List Chairman MK Ayman Odeh, for instance, tweeted, "Fake news, Netanyahu-style, as he has forgotten his position and acts like a garden variety thug. The prime minister is uninterested in facts. From 'droves of Arabs' to 'They did not stand at attention'—he is only interested in incitement. From this point, hate crimes are not far away."
Fellow Joint List lawmaker Ahmad Tibi, himself a Bnei Sakhnin supporter, wrote, "Never mind that the report was false and it's clear no one booed the minute's silence, and never mind that you never made a post when your friends in the eastern terrace (where hard-line supporters of Beitar Jerusalem sit—ed) shouted 'Mohammad is dead' and other gutter repertoire."
"Is that what you're busying yourself with? How much longer will you incite? We still remember the inciting post regarding the 'nationalistic rape' that never was. When will you apologize?" Tibi demanded.
Joining the chorus of voices against Netanyahu was Zionist Union Chairman Avi Gabbay, who said, "A prime minister who cares would have held a series of discussions to try and figure out what happened and what should be done to prevent the next disaster, or at least ask Education Minister Bennett what he did on the matter, which he didn't."
"Instead, Netanyahu is busy inciting with falsehoods against 20 percent of his citizenry," Gabbay accused.
Chairman of the Yesh Atid Knesset parliamentary group Ofer Shelah made his own comment on the matter, tweeting, "Someone spread a rumor that boos were heard at a Sakhnin soccer game during a minute's silence to the victims of the flood disaster."
"The Football Association, which examined the video, Ra'anana's coach and owner—all say it never happened. And who jumped in anyway to incite on the basis of an unfounded rumor? The prime minister, of course. Since when has the truth gotten in the way of Bibi's inciting and divisiveness?" Shelah said.
