Lapid, Livni express support for ‘heavy hand’ to fight terrorism, extend condolences to family of man killed in Jerusalem attack
Opposition politicians on Monday expressed their condolences to the family of a man killed in a stone-throwing attack in Jerusalem, and voiced support for a crackdown to stop such terrorism.
Yesh Atid party leader Yair Lapid issued a statement expressing his condolences to the Levlovitz family, saying he’d support legislation that would help deter Palestinian rock throwers.
Alexander Levlovitz and two other passengers traveling in a car in Jerusalem Sunday night came under attack by rock-throwers, causing the car to run into a ditch and hit a pole. Levlovitz died of injuries sustained in the attack on Monday morning. In a separate incident Monday, a young Israeli man sustained light injuries after coming under a rock-throwing attack also in the capital. He was treated at the scene and released.
“The rock throwing terror attack that killed Alexander Levlovitz reminds all of us that stones kill,” the former finance minister said.
“We must act forcefully against these rock throwers and against any terror activity that threatens the citizens of the State of Israel,” he said. “The government should do everything to fight terrorism and we will give our full support to any action that will restore security for the residents of the State of Israel.”
Tzipi Livni, a Zionist Union MK and justice minister in the previous Netanyahu government, also came out in support of anticipated legislation to increase punishments for people caught throwing stones at vehicles.
She said attacks like those in Jerusalem over the Jewish New Year “must be stopped,” and that “we must act against the stone terror, like against any terror, with a heavy and uncompromising hand.”
Livni and Lapid’s support came as Netanyahu said he would convene an emergency cabinet meeting after the New Year holiday concludes Tuesday night to consider fast-tracking legislation that would introduce mandatory minimum sentences for suspects convicted of throwing stones and firebombs.
The meeting would address deterrent measures against rock-throwers and will be attended by Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, Attorney-General Yehuda Weinstein and representatives from the security forces.
Netanyahu ordered Israel’s security agencies to bring to justice those responsible for the attack in Jerusalem’s East Talpiot neighborhood which left Levlovitz dead.
“The prime minister sees incidents of rock-throwing and firebomb attacks against Israeli citizens as very severe and intends to fight this phenomenon with every available measure including stiffening punishments [for such crimes],” according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office.
As reported by The Times of Israel