ADL blasts Lieberman for remark urging beheadings

Times of Israel

The Anti-Defamation League denounced on Tuesday remarks made by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in which he implied that Arabs disloyal to Israel should be decapitated — calling the comments “divisive and unacceptable.”

The prominent anti-Semitism watchdog’s censure came amid threats by Palestinian lawmakers to have Lieberman tried before the International Criminal Court for his comments.

Speaking at an elections event at the IDC, the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, the Yisrael Beytenu party head had said Sunday that Israeli Arabs who support the state “should receive everything [in terms of rights]; those against us, it cannot be helped, we must lift up an ax and behead them — otherwise we will not survive here.”

ADL National Director Abraham Foxman upbraided Lieberman for his remarks and urged all candidates in Israel’s upcoming general election to avoid extremist rhetoric.

“Minister Lieberman’s comments are divisive and unacceptable. Even suggesting that violence is an appropriate course of action against political rivals is beyond the pale,” Foxman said

“While the last week of any election campaign features frenzied political positioning, we urge all candidates to exercise restraint in their language and avoid extremist rhetoric,” he said.

Israel’s general elections are scheduled for March 17.

Lieberman shrugged off the Palestinian ICC threat and traded barbs with Israeli-Arab Knesset members, threatening to revoke their citizenship if appointed defense minister. The ICC is based in The Hague in the Netherlands.

Arab Joint List MK Ahmad Tibi vowed to prosecute the foreign minister and labeled him the “Jewish Islamic State,” comparing Lieberman to the ruthless terror group that has carved out swaths of Syria and Iraq.

Israeli Arab rights group Adalah beat Tibi to the punch Monday and asked Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to open an investigation into Lieberman’s remarks for inciting violence.

Palestinian social media was also abuzz over Lieberman’s comments, with one circulated image comparing the Yisrael Beytenu chief to Islamic State executioner Jihadi John.

Lieberman hit back at the building opprobrium by reiterating that forceful actions must be taken against those who endanger the Jewish state.

“[The Palestinian Authority] will get an answer to that from me as defense minister,” he said, reflecting his aspirations for the powerful post after next week’s vote.

The latest polls predict Lieberman’s Yisrael Beytenu will win five or six seats in the 120-member parliament, which would make it difficult for him to receive a significant ministerial position, were he to join a coalition.