The father of the IDF soldier who shot dead a wounded terrorist in Hevron last month condemned incitement against Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon (Likud), and then continued by criticizing Ya’alon’s incitement against his son.

In a letter to the Defense Minister, the father wrote:

“I find it appropriate to oppose the incitement campaign being waged against you, to send you reinforcement and to strongly condemn it. I’m sorry for announcements and reports circulating against you, this is a very serious matter and my family and I are shocked to discover any form of incitement.

But I turn to you and ask: Allow for a fair trial. Please Minister – Stop. Unfortunately, you were quick to judge (my son) on the day of the attack in Hevron, merely a few hours after the incident occurred. A few days after, you worsened your tone and convicted him in a Knesset speech that hurt my entire family – and most of all, our child. You certainly do not know, but after your speech, my wife completely broke down.

My son did not receive support; he was abandoned so early on that the military prosecution suspected him of murder! How is it even possible to accuse him with manslaughter? In our opinion, and I write this with great sorrow, everything is a result of early and baseless accusations that should not have even taken place while proceedings to prove his innocence were occurring.

(My son) should have the right to defend himself without political figures influencing the proceedings. It is the least he deserves, the least that an outstanding soldier who in his opinion was protecting his life and the lives of his friends in a violent reality of attacks deserves.”