(January 7, 2010) -- Last week, during an interview with broadcaster Dan Margalit during the television program, Erev Chadash (Good Evening), MP Jamal Zahalka of the National Democratic Assembly, became abusive and insulting.

Legal Forum Attorney Hila Cohen appealed to Government Legal Advisor, Meni Mazuz, following the Zahalka interview in which he said "Ehud Barak listens to classical music and murders children…"

In response to the Legal Forum's demand for action against Zahalka's incitement, Raz Nizri, senior assistant to the Government Legal Advisor, stated that "MP Zahalka's words were indeed callous and unworthy, both in their content and the way they were said – and it would have been better if they had been left unsaid."

He added that, "despite my reservations, this is not a criminal matter, aside from the need to deal with his (Zahalka's) parliamentary immunity." Then, Nizri suggested turning to the Knesset Ethics Committee.

According to Cohen, "this expression, which draws a comparison between the Israeli Minister of Defense and those who murdered women and children in the darkest days of the history of modern Europe, and then relaxed in the theaters and concert halls, with complete lack of compunction, is without a doubt something that should not have been said, and which goes beyond the legitimate limits of freedom of speech."

Cohen added that Zahalka compounded his offense by demonstrating his lack of respect for the Knesset – of which he is a representative. Zahalka yelled at Margalit, who was interviewing him, and called the broadcaster several insulting names including "nobody" and "Mefisto". He also accused Margalit of not having a conscience and being a biased court reporter.

MP Zahalka's subversive expressions attack the very existence of the State of Israel, and of the right of Jews, like Mr. Margalit, to live here.

http://www.youtube.com/user/halemocom (broadcast with English subtitles)