The State Prosecutor's Office ordered the police on Sunday to investigate Upper Nazareth City Councilman Ze'ev Hartman on suspicion of racial incitement in connection with a film made for the city for Independence Day.

Members of the council were interviewed for the film, which was supposed to be screened above a centrally-located stage. Hartman broke out in a series of blessings for the city, ending with "that the vision of Ben-Gurion [be realized that] all the Arabs disappear," according to the camera operator.

In response to the charges, Hartman said, "I was asked what I wished for ... the freedom fighters of Hamas. I wished them to disappear and if I may say so, the same thing to their families. The cassette was edited and this will be investigated by the people."

Hartman has been accused of similar behavior in the past but has only been warned and not charged with a criminal offense.