Jerusalem – A 19 year-old IDF soldier from Ashdod is facing criminal charges after he uploaded a disparaging photo of the late Rabbi Ovadia Yosef to his Facebook page.
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ARUTZ SHEVA 7 (http://bit.ly/1aaS2WH) reports that the soldier is also facing possible disciplinary action from the military.
Sources say the soldier posted the offensive picture to his Facebook page along with an accompanying message that compared Yosef to Adolph Hitler.
According to Ashdod police Chief Superintendent, Noam Shekel, his department was contacted within 5 minutes of the posting, after cyber experts traced the offensive post to the account of the Ashdod soldier.
Shekel said police immediately contacted the soldier, who initially refused to delete the post, citing “freedom of expression.”
After continued pressure from authorities, the 19 year-old finally agreed to remove the post.
Police have filed criminal charges against the soldier, saying that the post was an abusive message against Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, of Blessed Memory.
Police praised the quick response of the cyber experts for preventing Yosef’s family and followers from having to view the hateful post, while also announcing that they are stepping up efforts to prevent any similar incidents.
so there is no freedom of speech in ‘democratic’ israel?
As despicable as his comments were, there should be no criminal charges brought.
No law was broken.
If thats the case half the ashkenaz community needs to be brought up on charges. And you all know who you are
Cue the Streisand Effect….
Wow! Does this policy apply to those who call other Jews “Amalek” or “Kapo” as well?
how on earth is there a resemblance/comparison,
o my o my some kids have strange imaginations. He can’t be Jewish
Job well done.
The same charges should go to the Hungarian antisamite Yair Lapid with his Facebook page.
Throw him in jail, take away his cell for a month, give him only bread and water. See if he likes it. Before he gets out, he has to read everything about Rabbi Yosef and then write a composition no less than 1,000 words which should be posted on Facebook and maybe VIN.
אָלָה, פִּיהוּ מָלֵא–וּמִרְמוֹת וָתֹךְ; תַּחַת לְשׁוֹנוֹ, עָמָל וָאָוֶן
שָׁוְא, יְדַבְּרוּ–אִישׁ אֶת-רֵעֵהוּ: שְׂפַת חֲלָקוֹת–בְּלֵב וָלֵב יְדַבֵּרוּ
תֵּאָלַמְנָה, שִׂפְתֵי-שָׁקֶר: הַדֹּבְרוֹת עַל-צַדִּיק עָתָק–בְּגַאֲוָה וָבוּז
There is peace when ignorance is checked. The IDF should indeed discipline him. Criminal charges to me is very harsh. But he has fewer worries I guess since he has already spoken his piece huh?
a bit like calling other Jews, “nazis”, no?
FREE SPEECH?
I do not agree with the soldier but I believe he has his rights to freedom of expression.
So much for free speech in Israel. If this kind of standard applied here, a good portion of you bums would be arrested for your insults of the President…THEN you’d be crying foul.
Shame on these comments besmirching a Gadol.