After an IDF medic shot and killed a wounded and unarmed Palestinian man who was lying on the ground, Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that it is “outrageous and unacceptable” to criticize Israeli forces.
Last Thursday, the world responded in horror to a video of an Israeli Defense Force medic executing a wounded and disarmed Palestinian man. Israel’s far-right coalition celebrated the incident as symbolic of their aggressive settlement expansion the region.
The sentiment of the Israeli right wing appears to be shared by the general public. A poll conducted for Israel’s Channel 2 News found that 57 percent of the public said no arrest or investigation into the medic’s actions was called for, with only 32 percent of those polled calling for his arrest.
Israel’s apparent disconnect with the rest of the world stretches further than public opinion polls. Over the last several days, rallies have been held in support of the IDF medic, referring to him as a national hero, along with online petitions demanding that the killer be given a medal for his action.
