Right-wing activist sorry for wishing family of fallen soldier lose another child

A right-wing activist has apologized for saying he wished the family of a fallen Israeli soldier would lose another child, because they allegedly hosted a group of anti-Netanyahu protesters at their home.

Ephraim Grif tells Channel 12: “There are not comments that should be made to a bereaved family. I apologize. You don’t say the things I said last night, but we are human and we make mistakes. It shouldn’t have happened; it was said in a storm of emotions.”

Grif had been heard saying: “There is a God and he punished her. I wish upon her another [lost child].”

Demonstrators had hurled insults at neighbors of the prime minister in Caesarea. A message reportedly circulated on WhatsApp ahead of the protest complained that the family “commits terrorism in front of the Netanyahu family’s home.”

Their actions were condemned by the prime minister, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, President Reuven Rivlin and opposition leader Yair Lapid.