Party Files Police Complaint Against Bereaved Father for Alleged Threat to Eisenkot's Wife

The Yishar! party has filed a police complaint against Yossi Cohen, the father of Amit Cohen, who was killed at the Nova festival. The party alleges that during a protest outside the home of Gadi Eisenkot, the party's leader, Cohen threatened Hannah Eisenkot, Gadi Eisenkot's wife, by saying, "You will not live, you will be next to your son." Cohen claims his words were metaphorical.

The protest, which took place on Tuesday evening, saw Cohen shouting through a megaphone towards the Eisenkot family home, calling Gadi Eisenkot a "traitor" who "sold his son." Other protesters joined in with chants of "traitor."

In response to the incident, Yishar! announced its police complaint, demanding an investigation into the alleged threats. The party stated that while they share Cohen's grief over his loss, no amount of pain justifies threatening to kill, inciting hatred, or using another family's bereavement to harm them. They described the incident as an "unfathomable moral low" and a "horrifying expression of incitement, hatred, and violence."

The party also blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, suggesting the event is a result of a political culture that uses hatred and division as a political tool. "We demand that the Israel Police act decisively, investigate the threats, and prosecute those responsible," they added.

In a conversation with journalist Bar Shem-Ur, Cohen explained that his remarks were intended metaphorically. He stated, "Eisenkot diminished the army with his actions, he caused this. Perhaps my wording wasn't the best, but those who understand me know exactly what I meant." Cohen further attacked Eisenkot, calling him a traitor for "sitting with Arabs" and "selling a Jewish soldier for gentiles." Cohen denied that the protest was organized by the Likud party, stating, "I am a Likudnik, but no one sent us from the Likud."