Funeral in eastern Jerusalem
Funeral in eastern JerusalemReuters

Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan instructed Jerusalem police on Tuesday to halt the return of terrorists’ bodies to their families, following the revelation that a terrorist’s funeral held last night was used as a platform for anti-Semitic rhetoric and incitement to murder.

“I was just shown pictures from the riot that took place during the funeral last night in eastern Jerusalem, which despite promises by the family and strict orders by the police, a large event was held with many attendees, which included incitement and [expressions of] support for terrorism,” said Erdan on Tuesday.

Erdan said the families had lied to the Supreme Court, which had insisted that they obey police demands not to turn funerals into large events demonstrating support for terrorism.

“It’s a shame the Supreme Court believed them and pressured the police to hand over the bodies ahead of Ramadan.”

After last night’s funeral, Erdan ordered Israeli police not to hand over any additional terrorists’ bodies.

“I hope that the Supreme Court will also be shown the pictures of the incitement, which should never happen anywhere, and certainly not in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel.”

While Erdan’s instructions bar the Israeli police from transferring additional bodies, that order relates only to terrorists from eastern Jerusalem, who are legal residents of Israel.

Authority for transfers of the bodies of terrorists from Judea and Samaria lies with the Defense Ministry. Former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon had endorsed the transfer of terrorist bodies, though that policy may change with Yaalon’s likely successor, Avigdor Liberman.