Ben-Yishai said of the soldiers destroying the Federman home “They should all be like [kidnapped IDF soldier] Gilad Shalit. They should all die and they should all be slaughtered because that's what they deserve.” He later explained that his statement was made in the heat of the moment, as soldiers demolished the home and beat protesters, including children.
"On Saturday night, when I was called to the Federman farm, and I saw the cruelty and brutality of the Yassam police, and the violent abuse of the children and women of the Federman and Tor families, and as the policemen stood and rejoiced over the family's misfortune in the middle of the night, and the homes were destroyed with all of the contents within, I was extremely agitated, more so than I had ever been before,” he said of the context in which his statements were made.
While he said Tuesday in a public letter that he had not meant to curse all IDF soldiers, Ben-Yishai said he would not forgive soldiers who participated in the destruction of the Federman family home or the Federman-Tor farm. “Whoever takes part in expelling Jews will not be forgiven. I pray that the Holy One will repay them,” he said.
Police arrested Ben-Yishai Thursday after attempting to summon him for investigation on Tuesday and Wednesday. When Ben-Yishai did not appear in the police station for questioning, officers obtained an arrest warrant.
Statement Became Focus of Criticism
Ben-Yishai's curse led to heavy criticism from politicians and media analysts. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert discussed the curse in a cabinet meeting the following morning. Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann said he was "disgusted by the incitement expressed by extremist elements in the territories against IDF soldiers and security forces” and called on the police and the Attorney General to use “all necessary means” against those who speak against soldiers.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak slammed Ben-Yishai as well, and called for harsher punishments for those speaking against soldiers or other government agents. Barak even threatened to use administrative measures against Jewish protesters in Judea and Samaria, and warned that those using similar curses in the future would be met with “an iron fist.”
Residents of Kiryat Arba and Hevron said they were frustrated by the media focus on Ben-Yishai's words. "Instead of dealing with the destruction of a home, the media concentrates on a couple of crazies... Instead of interviewing Elisheva Federman about how her children were thrown out of their home in the middle of the night and their house destroyed, they look for an extremist speaking against the IDF,” one said.