SS: investigation opened on suspicion of offending public servant

Following the publication of pictures of elected officials in SS uniforms, this morning (Sunday), the police and the Department of Justice announced that an investigation was opened only on suspicion of offending a public official and not of incitement.

"In recent days images of prominent personalities have been published on the Internet in SS uniforms accompanied by jeers," the official statement said. "The publications were examined by the professional Investigations and Intelligence Division and the State Attorney's Office."

As recalled, this morning a fictitious Facebook account named "Nathan Zoabi" was opened, which uploaded images of Nationality Law opponents wearing SS uniforms.

In the images are among others the President Reuven (Ruvy) Rivlin, Minister of Finance Yair Lapid, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino and former minister Michael (Mickey) Eitan.

Following the publication of images, the Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonowitz contacted Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein to order an immediate investigation - using all the tools available to treat this "severe" matter, as defined by the Minister.

According to the minister, "This is a black line crossing and I see these reports very severely. We all remember where such incitement previously led and we must act quickly to find those involved in advertising and bring them to justice."

After approval of the special functions of the State Attorney's Office, with consent of the State Attorney, the head of the Investigations and Intelligence Division Commander Manny Yitzhaki ordered the National Cyber in unit Lahav 433 to open an investigation "on suspicion of offending a public official." This is because of the sharp publications.

This is not the first case of posting pictures of seniors in SS uniform, in early 2012 an announcement was published by email and social networking which compared the Jerusalem District Police Chief Niso Shaham to the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler "Adolf Niso Shaham - a genocide committer! We've passed Hitler and we'll overcome his successor". Police have launched an investigation to locate the authors and distributors of the ad.

As part of the affair, the one who exposed the story, Behadrey Haredim reporter Yaki Admaker, was interrogated. Later, three Arab residents of Beit Shemesh aged 26, 41 and 55, suspected of preparing the post, were arrested and their computers were confiscated. The arrest was extended several times and they were released home.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!