‘Death to Bibi’ written on Tel Aviv sidewalk

Likud leaders denounced graffiti calling for “Death to Bibi” on a sidewalk in downtown Tel Aviv Sunday morning as ncitement to violence.

The words, scrawled in Hebrew with white chalk, were removed by municipal workers, and police opened an investigation.

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud) promptly condemned the incident on Twitter.

“When will we understand that incitement leads to violence?” he wrote. “It is permissible to criticize, it is permissible to disagree – incitement is prohibited.”

שוב כתובות נאצה!
הפעם נגד ראש הממשלה. מתי כבר נבין שהסתה מובילה לאלימות? מותר לבקר, מותר לא להסכים - אבל אסור בכל איסור להסית! pic.twitter.com/JCKucQc5Dy

— Yuli Edelstein (@YuliEdelstein) February 4, 2018

Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud) condemned the graffiti as “crossing a red line.”

“Graffiti in the center of Tel Aviv with the slogan ‘Death to Bibi’ is serious incitement and crossing a red line – whether the background is personal, ideological, or opposed to the expulsion of labor infiltrators,” he said, adding, “We are approaching the edge of the abyss.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) called for all politicians to condemn the threat.

“Death threats addressed to the prime minister demand condemnation from all sides of the political spectrum, not just from the right wing” said Hotovely. “Calling for murder and violence is dangerous and the inciters should be brought to justice.”

Noting the use of a mock guillotine during corruption protests against the government several weeks ago, Minister of Communications Ayoub Kara (Likud) warned that such incitement can lead to deadly action.

“The incitement against the prime minister must stop, now and immediately!” he said. “Unfortunately, there will always be people who will do something. This incitement must stop, and the sooner the better.”