Settler places pork on body of Palestinian stabber

A video posted on social media over the weekend revealed graphic images of a man from the settlement of Kiryat Arba apparently placing pig flesh on the body of a Palestinian moments after he was killed carrying out a stabbing attack against Israeli border police.

In a video first posted on Facebook, the man can be seen carrying what appears to be ham or a similar pork product before placing it on the attacker. Magen David Adom paramedics were seen administering treatment to the Palestinian man, who was soon declared dead at the scene.

The graphic video was published by the Walla news site.

The incident took place after the Palestinian attacker stabbed a police officer in Kiryat Arba, adjacent to Hebron. The officer was lightly wounded and the stabber was shot by other officers. He died from his wounds on the way to hospital.

Police said that he had tried to grab the officer’s gun after stabbing him.

Pig flesh is considered impure in both Muslim and Jewish traditions and is not eaten by adherents of either faith. Some claim that if a Muslim is buried with a pig, he cannot receive Allah’s blessing in the afterlife, and that, therefore, placing pig flesh or blood on the bodies of Muslim terrorists could render them ineligible for martyr status.

Right-wing activist Itamar Ben Gvir praised the act, saying the person who did it “should be given a medal,” the Walla report said.

“If this could prevent terror attacks, then we are definitely talking about the idea of the year,” he said. “It’s time for us to stop with this self-righteousness and realize that we are in a war for our survival.”

The practice of using pig flesh to spiritually defile the bodies of dead Muslim fighters dates back to the 19th century Philippines insurrection against the United States, but has been proposed in recent years by some as a deterrent to Islamist terrorism.

In 2001, deputy public security minister Gideon Ezra made the suggestion in an interview with the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth. Ezra claimed burying Palestinian suicide bombers with pig skin or pig blood could deter potential attackers.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.