Israeli President Herzog Meets Family of Murdered Yimno Zalaka to Call for End to Violence

On the eve of Tisha B'Av and three months after the brutal murder of Yimno Benjamin Zalaka, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal hosted the Zalaka family at the President's Residence in Jerusalem. The meeting took place on a day of national reflection about the cost of division and senseless hatred within Israeli society.

Yimno Zalaka, aged 21, was fatally stabbed by a group of youths in Petah Tikva on the eve of Israel's Independence Day. He succumbed to his wounds two days later, an event that shocked the nation and reignited concerns over rising violence in Israel. During the meeting, the President and the family discussed Yimno’s unifying character and their efforts to commemorate him.

President Herzog emphasized the destructive impact of hatred and violence, stating, "Society is being destroyed from within by hatred and violence," and called for a united fight against all forms of violence. Michal Herzog echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need for societal unity and improvement.

Yimno’s parents expressed their grief and frustration, noting that while Israel faces many external enemies, internal hatred is what ultimately destroyed their son. His sister, Yiros Zalaka, spoke about their initiative, the "Love Like Yimno" movement, aimed at combating violence through societal change and promoting love and respect.

The meeting underscored a shared call for a relentless struggle against violence and a strengthening of mutual responsibility within Israeli society, especially poignant on Tisha B'Av, a day commemorating destruction and the consequences of baseless hatred.