Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu praised and defended Rehavam "Gandhi" Ze'evi at a memorial ceremony for the slain Tourism Minister today.
Ze'evi was assassinated by an Arab terrorist on October 17, 2001, during the Second Intifada. Earlier this year a Channel 10 report published unproven allegations against Ze'evi, accusing him of sexual harassment and connections to the underworld.
Netanyahu said that those allegations should not be used to tarnish Ze'evi's reputation. "You have to remember that Gandhi is not here to answer."
"The right to a good reputation is a fundamental right for the dead no less than for the living," Netanyahu continued. He said that Ze'evi left "a legacy of great accomplishment for the country, which requires our gratitude."
Netanyahu further praised Ze'evi. "There was no difference between Gandhi's supporters and opponents. Both of these [groups] understood that our enemies marked Gandhi as a target specifically because of his ideological power and inner passion."
Ze'evi's son, Palmach, said that the report by Channel 10's Uvda program was an attempt to smear his father. "This is not the first time that they've tried to destroy a person's life." He said that the difference this time was that "the person is dead and cannot defend himself."
President Reuven Rivlin said that "Even though serious claims have been made lately (against Ze'evi), we have to remember his actions in defense of the nation and his dedication to Israel."
Earlier, opposition MKs announced that they would boycott a special Knesset session in memory of Ze'evi over the allegations against him - and his political views.