Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the Israeli Army on Sunday as controversy gripped the country over a soldier caught on video shooting a Palestinian assailant in the head as he lay on the ground.
The incident on Thursday led to the soldier’s arrest and strong condemnation from military officials, but some rightwing politicians and their supporters have reacted angrily to the response.
Netanyahu on Thursday joined condemnations of the soldier’s behaviour but appeared to backpedal slightly Sunday in remarks at the start of a cabinet meeting.” Any challenge to the morality of the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) is outrageous and unacceptable,” he said.