The Likud court decided today (Friday) to accept the position of the party's critic, attorney Shai Galili, and therefore will not expel the three activists, Rami Ben Yehuda, Itzik Zarka and Moshe Meron.
The court rejected petitions filed against Ben Yehuda and Meron, ruling that their statements fall under the category of freedom of expression and do not constitute grounds for expulsion from the movement. In the Zarqa case, it was decided to partially accept the appeal against his expulsion from the party, and the court imposed a one-year suspended sentence on him.
Itzik Zarka shouted at anti-government demonstrators: "Ashkenazim, I'm proud that six million were burned," and the next day asked for forgiveness: "I apologize on behalf of the entire Jewish people in Israel and the Diaspora," explaining: "I was attacked by 80 to 100 people with severe violence, and as a result words came out of my mouth that were not true and things were taken out of context. My grandfather is a Holocaust survivor and we know what the Jews of European countries went through during the Holocaust. I apologize with all my soul and from the bottom of my soul. Sorry if I hurt anyone."
At the same time, Prime Minister Netanyahu called for Zarka to be expelled from the movement because of his statements, and the Likud issued a statement of condemnation: "The Likud movement strongly condemns Itzik Zarka's remarks and completely disavows them. We will not accept or contain such shocking statements. We call for an end to the inciting and violent discourse on all sides, now is the time to unite against our enemies and the many challenges we face."
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