A Hebrew University professor who compared the children of Jewish settlers to Hitler Youth has prompted calls from the right-wing for his dismissal.
In an interview with the weekly newspaper Yerushalayim, Professor Moshe Zimmerman said he saw strong similarities between the two groups.
“There is a whole sector of Israeli society, that without hesitation I would call a copy of the Nazis,” he said. “Look at the children of Hebron: They are exactly like Hitler Youth. They are brainwashed from age zero that Arabs are bad and about anti-Semitism, making them paranoid and racist — just like the Hitler Youth.”
Zimmerman later said some of his comments were distorted in the published interview. But he nonetheless held firm to his conviction that there are certain parallels between the settlers and Nazis, including racism.
Likud Knesset member Ron Nahman called on Education Minister Amnon Rubinstein to dismiss Zimmerman immediately. Nahman also called on the State Attorney’s Office to bring criminal charges against the professor for incitement.
“The professor’s remarks are a filthy stain on the Hebrew University, and anyone who expresses such opinions should have no place in the Israeli education system,” said Nahman.
Israel Television reported that settlers councils in the West Bank town of Hebron and in neighboring Kiryat Arba are preparing to bring charges against
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