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A week later, Netanyahu calls killing of autistic Palestinian a 'tragedy'

More than a week after the killing of Palestinian Iyad Halak, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to condemn the incident and describe it as a tragedy.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks as he and U.S. President Donald Trump discuss a Middle East peace plan proposal in the East Room of the White House in Washington, U.S., January 28, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid - RC26PE94BY08

“What happened was a tragedy. This is a man with disabilities, with autism, unjustly suspected, and we expect it to be fully checked. We all join in the family’s grief — it encompasses the entire Israeli public as well as the entire Israeli government,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on June 7.

Netanyahu was referring to the killing of autistic Palestinian Iyad Halak at Jerusalem Old City’s Lions’ Gate nine days earlier on May 30. Netanyahu's political partner, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, had already addressed the killing a day after it happened, stating on May 31, “We apologize for the shooting; we will investigate the incident.’’ Gantz made his statement at the opening of the Cabinet’s weekly meeting, but Netanyahu said nothing at the time.

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