Ben-Gvir convicted of inciting to racism

Self-declared Kahane spokesman found guilty of carrying signs that read, "Expel the Arab enemy" and "Rabbi Kahane was right: The Arab MKs are a fifth column."

ben gvir 88 (photo credit: )
ben gvir 88
(photo credit: )
Far-right activist Itamar Ben-Gvir was convicted Monday in a Jerusalem court of incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organization. The self-declared Kahane spokesman was found guilty for carrying signs that read, "Expel the Arab enemy" and "Rabbi Kahane was right: The Arab MKs are a fifth column." He was acquitted on similar charges for chanting "Death to the Arabs" after a Jerusalem bombing, and for stating that outlawing the Kach movement was a joke. The prosecution said it would ask for a jail term. Ben-Gvir said he would appeal the ruling. "The same legal system that gave freedom of expression to [former Israeli Arab MK Azmi] Bishara convicts me," he said. "Yet again it has been proven that some judges are hypocritical leftists." Ben-Gvir has a long history of legal action against him. A date has yet to be set for his sentencing hearing. He was released to house arrest. The maximum sentence Ben-Gvir can receive is eight years in prison - five years for incitement to racism and three years for support of a terror group. Rebecca Anna Stoil contributed to this report.