Arutz ShevaSecurity12:29

Grieving Father Attacked Outside Polling Station

By ערוץ 7

Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba

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Hebrew · 3 newsrooms covering

Robi Chen, father of fallen soldier Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, was verbally attacked outside a polling station in Netanya while campaigning for votes in memory of fallen soldiers. The assailant called Chen a "traitor" and blamed Ronen Bar. Chen was at the polling station after participating in a morning event at Hostages Square with other bereaved families. Despite the incident, Chen reported receiving widespread support from other voters.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Robi Chen, father of fallen soldier Itay Chen, was verbally attacked outside a Netanya polling station.
The attacker called Chen a "traitor" and blamed Ronen Bar.
Chen was campaigning with his son's photo, urging votes in memory of fallen soldiers.
The incident occurred after Chen and other bereaved families spoke at Hostages Square.
Chen reported receiving significant support from other voters despite the confrontation.

Grieving Father Attacked Outside Polling Station — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Robi Chen, the father of fallen soldier Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, who was killed on October 7 and whose body was held in Gaza, was verbally assaulted outside a polling station in Netanya on Tuesday. Chen arrived at the polling station carrying a sign with his son's picture, urging voters to cast their ballots in memory of fallen soldiers. He encountered an individual who began to curse at him and called him a "traitor." Chen told Channel 12 News, "I am standing here with my son's sign, telling them to vote for the fallen, to vote for them." He added that the man who cursed at him, whom he did not know, was identified by bystanders as a local resident. The incident occurred after Chen and other bereaved families began election day at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv at 6:30 AM, issuing a joint statement calling for public participation in the elections and remembrance of the fallen. Despite the confrontation, Chen stated that most people he met that morning offered him support. Staff Sergeant Itay Chen, a tank crew member in the 77th Armored Battalion, fell in battle on October 7, 2023, at the age of 19. His body was returned to Israel after being held in Gaza for over two years.