Netanyahu Criticizes Deputy Commander of Israeli Army

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticized the deputy commander of the Israeli army for comments that implicitly compared Israel to the Nazi era. General Yair Golan, the deputy chief of staff of the Israeli army, expressed concern that signs of racism in contemporary Israel resemble behaviors from eighty to ninety years ago that led to the rise of the Nazis in Germany. He made these remarks during a memorial ceremony for Jewish Holocaust victims. According to Israeli media, Netanyahu stated on Sunday, May 8, that Golan's comments are far from reality and diminish the tragedy of the Holocaust. Netanyahu asserted, 'These disturbing remarks should not have been made either on Holocaust Remembrance Day or at any other time, as they are an injustice to the Israeli community, this amazing country.' However, several ministers from the Likud party and other right-wing figures have called for Golan's resignation or dismissal. According to Haaretz, Likud member Minister Miri Regev stated that if Golan does not resign, the possibility of his removal should be considered. Minister of Science Ofir Akunis also told Netanyahu during a Likud ministers' meeting that Golan's remarks have caused 'the most severe damage to Israel's image globally' and action should be taken against him. Golan's mother, an elderly Holocaust survivor, stated in Israeli media that her son spoke the truth and many people feel that society in Israel has become extremely radical. Haaretz reported that General Moshe Ya'alon, a security minister and Likud member, expressed full faith in Golan and deemed the controversial interpretations of his remarks as futile and unjust. Former chief of staff General Dan Halutz also stated that politicians and society should deeply consider why this senior military officer felt the need to issue such a warning. Several other political figures and former Israeli military personnel expressed their support for Golan. Opposition leader Isaac Herzog tweeted on Sunday that Netanyahu's attempts to intimidate and silence army officers are dangerous and unprecedented in this country. Golan also referenced public support for a soldier's action of delivering a fatal shot to a Palestinian attacker as an example of the society becoming more extreme. Two months ago, after a Palestinian attacker stabbed an Israeli soldier in the West Bank, other soldiers at the scene shot and injured the attacker, but eight minutes later, a medic soldier who arrived shot him in the head. The chief of staff of the Israeli army and the country's security minister labeled this behavior as a violation of weapon use regulations and supported the soldier's prosecution. However, a significant wave of criticism and protests from right-wing groups targeted the chief of staff and the security minister. Israeli media reported that the trial of this soldier, named Elazar Azaria, began on Monday, May 20. The soldier claimed he was concerned that the wounded Palestinian attacker might have a bomb under his clothing that he intended to detonate. In the past seven months of violence between Israelis and Palestinians, over 210 Palestinians have been killed. Meanwhile, Israeli media reported that the killing of a Palestinian brother and sister two weeks ago at a checkpoint near Jerusalem was based solely on 'suspicion' that they intended to attack, without any real justification.