Netanyahu Support for Soldier on Trial Kicks-off Angry Responses

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has triggered a new public outcry when he seemingly compared the suffering of the family of a soldier on trial for manslaughter –having allegedly killed a Palestinian assailant who was apparently already subdued — to that of families whose relatives have fallen in battle. In a message posted on his Facebook page, Netanyahu walked back his remarks, saying “I did not intend in any way to compare the suffering of bereaved families, a suffering I am very familiar with, to the situation of other parents in distress. There is no comparison and can be no comparison.” The incident began when Netanyahu told a television interviewer that he has no regrets over his phone call to the family of Sgt. Elor Azaria after he shot the Palestinian. His remarks on television elicited angry responses from citizens and political figures.