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CAA slam “grossly insufficient” sentence BY SIMCHA ABIR
Campaign Against Antisemitism has criticised a Liverpool magistrate for not imposing a custodial sentence on a teenager who threatened to “bomb” a synagogue”. Liverpool Youth Court heard that the boy, who received a 12-month referral order, searched Google for his nearest synagogue and downloaded instructions for making bombs. He was pictured wearing a mask with swastikas on, making a white power salute and giving a Nazi salute. “I am a domestic terror threat. I will bomb a synagogue,” the sixteen-yearold boy, who has autism and cannot be named for legal reasons, allegedly wrote on Twitter. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring, sentencing, said he had “struggled greatly” with a decision. Goldspring handed out a non-custodial sentence in the “public interest” as a custodial punishment may jeopardise rehabilitative steps made. CAA disagreed with the ruling stating the sentence was “grossly insufficient and must be enhanced”. A spokesman explained, “We are seeing more and more youngsters being groomed and recruited by the far-right, which is
12 MAY 2022
Arrest made over Bennett death threats
immensely troubling. Video games are one of the most attractive mediums for extremist propagandising, and parents, teachers and the authorities ignore them at our peril. The Chief Magistrate, who even admitted that this is one of the most appalling cases in his entire career, is absolutely wrong not to impose a custodial sentence. He may, astoundingly, believe that it is not in the public interest to incarcerate someone who declared his intention to bomb a synagogue and may have sought ways to do so, but the Jewish community would beg to differ. It is not for nought that synagogues in the UK require security guards and other special safety measures.” It is understood the boy became radicalised after playing the free online video game Fortnite. Gerard Pitt, defending, said the boy wrote a number of antisemitic, racist and anti-LGBT posts on social media. He also promoted the “incel” subculture. Pitt told the court the boy had a “very large library” of far-right content but had moved away from these views. Goldspring, sentencing, said the boy had been derogatory about “every minority group that existed” and had something to say about it.
those responsible as it had “crossed a line”. “One bullet in a letter can become three Israeli police have arrested a 65-year-old fired from a pistol,” Gantz said. “Even in woman in southern Israel on suspicion times of difficult disagreements, we must all remember our strength of sending death threats is in our unity.” to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s wife and son last Foreign Minister Yair Lapid noted, “We will fight month. the hate speech in the Police have put a gag order on the investigation and streets, online and everyrelease of more details. where. They will not scare After a letter addressed us. Extremists will not prevail over the sane majority.” to Gilat Bennett was sent on April 26 police and Shin Religion Minister Matan Bet investigated. A second Kahana is a member of letter to Bennett’s 16-year Bennett’s Yamina party old son Yoni was received and also received a death two days later. threat by telephone. The Both letters had live bulcaller hoped Arabs killed Prime Minister Naftali Bennett lets inside the envelopes. him leaving his children “We must do everything orphaned. to make sure that does not happen,” BenKahana recalled the assassination of nett said at the time. “We are all human Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin by a rightbeings and can have arguments and dis- wing extremist in 1995. agreements but not bullying and threats. I A resident of Ashkelon was arrested am a Prime Minister and a politician but I last August after posting an alleged threat am also a father and husband and my duty against Bennett following the death of IDF is to protect my wife and children. We must soldier, Barel Hadaria-Shumeli on the Gaza tone the discourse down.” border during riots. Defence Minister Benny Gantz called on Security levels are at the second highest police and security services to apprehend level before the coalition was set up. BY ADAM MOSES
Israel ends PCR tests at Ben Gurion BY LEAH WAXLER
Israel’s Ministry of Health has ended its Covid-19 measures by removing on-arrival PCR tests. Under new guidelines agreed by the Ministry and Airports Authority passengers landing at Ben Gurion airport from May 20 no longer need to perform a PCR test. Israel’s Ministry of Health’s announced the news on Twitter. “The decision was made in light of the decline in morbidity data,” wrote the Ministry. “It was agreed that the professionals would formulate a mechanism for maintaining the suitability of the testing system at Ben Gurion Airport, in order to enable it to be operated quickly, in full or in part when necessary.” This Tuesday also saw foreign travellers
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to Israel allowed to take an antigen test before boarding the plane instead of a PCR test. Any passenger who chooses the antigen option must perform the test in the 24 hours prior to departure to Israel. The announcements are the latest developments by Israel to ease entry since relaxing measures in February. Israel’s Minister of Tourism Yoel Ravozov tweeted his support. Sharon Ehrlich Bershadsky, Israel Government Tourist office, London, commented, “As consumer confidence grows in line with restrictions easing, it was important that we made the entry process as simple as possible for travellers whilst keeping health and safety a top priority. We are hopeful that the easing of on-arrival PCR tests will help encourage tourists to put Israel on their holiday lists this year.”
