Hagai Lober, whose son Yonatan was killed in action in Gaza, spoke out Thursday morning following the murder of pro-Israel conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In an emotional Facebook post, Lober called for restraint and cautioned against collective accusations, drawing a parallel to the assassination of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
"We will not forget the injustice done to right-wing individuals with the collective accusation in the murder of Yitzhak Rabin. We will not do the same thing to left-wing individuals in the murder of Charlie Kirk."
Lober continued, highlighting the importance of holding the actual perpetrator accountable:
"Those who disagreed with him vehemently are not responsible for his death. Those who argued with him passionately are not responsible for his death. Those who thought his opinions were dangerous and anti-democratic are not responsible for his death."
He emphasized that the shooter, and only the shooter, is to blame: "The despicable shooter is the one responsible for his death. Those who see an enemy in anyone who thinks differently are responsible for his death. Those who directly incite murder are responsible for his death."
Drawing on the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, Lober pointed out the importance of free speech and differing opinions: "Yes. Just as no one is responsible for the death of Rabin - only the killer, Yigal Amir. It was permissible back then to disagree with the 'peace path' that he led."
"It was permissible back then to think that the Oslo Accords led to the killing of my son and many others. It is permissible to disagree, to criticize, to debate, to think that an opinion is dangerous."
"It is forbidden to incite murder. It is forbidden to pick up a weapon. It is forbidden to silence by force.
"What we hated being done to us, even now, we will not do to others."
Lober ended with a heartfelt tribute to Charlie Kirk: "Rest in peace, dear Righteous Among the Nations, Charlie Kirk, you will be greatly missed. The people of Israel salute you."