Army Radio commander Yaron Dekel apologized on Monday for a radio host who likened the bereaved parents of slain IDF soldiers to the families of terrorists.
He would not, however, consent to calls to have Army Radio host Razi Barkai suspended or fired for the contentious remark.
"The comparison between bereaved parents and the parents of murderers is gross, painful, outrageous and misplaced," Dekel slammed. "Razi Barkai is a veteran and professional broadcaster and there is no reason to jump on him for an unsuccessful remark."
Barkai on Sunday had made the comparison in an interview with Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud), likening the pain of the families of IDF soldiers whose bodies are being held captive by Hamas with the pain of the families of Arab terrorists whose bodies are held by Israel, delaying their return and burial as a deterrent move.
"I'm happy that you said these things out loud," Simha Goldin, the father of fallen IDF soldier Hadar Goldin whose body is body is being held by Hamas in Gaza, said to Barkai in an interview confrontation on Army Radio Monday morning.
"Now IDF soldiers need to decide whether to continue listening to this station."
Barkai tried to apologize, saying, "If (my) words hurt you then it was an unsuccessful expression. I tried to explain where it comes from, but I think that in this matter the two of us have clarified things."
Prof. Goldin responded, saying, "The apology is not an apology between us, it needs to be an apology to the entire state of Israel, to all IDF soldiers."