A disgraced former minister, a disgraceful comparison

Former minister Shlomo Benizri, who was released early from prison on Thursday after serving nearly two-and-half years of a four-year sentence, attacked the legal system upon his release and compared his plight to that of Gilad Schalit.

“I understand what pain is, only my pain is worse,” said Benizri, who was convicted of taking bribes, conspiring to commit a crime, breach of trust and obstruction of justice. “[Gilad Schalit’s] pain is pain inflicted by terrorists, but my pain is great too.”

“When I was in prison, this may sound pathetic, but the image that was constantly in front of me was that of Gilad Schalit,” he added.

IDF soldier Gilad Schalit was taken captive by Hamas in a cross-border raid in 2006 and held in isolation in an underground bunker for five-and-a-half years without any visits from the Red Cross.

The ultra-Orthodox Shas member, who had served both as health minister and as labor and welfare minister before his incarceration in 2009, went on to accuse the legal system of conspiring against him. “This [conviction] was an act of vengeance because I had spoken out against the courts and against values sanctified by the secular public,” he said.

Benizri’s tirade sparked a backlash among court officials, with retired Tel Aviv District Court Judge Bracha Ofir-Tom saying Thursday, “I expected him to at least shut up when he got out. After all, he was released early by more than a third of his original sentence.”

Ofir-Tom reacted with outrage to Benizri’s tirade against Justice Levy, who stiffened his sentence: “He wrote that verdict with his heart’s blood,” she said, explaining that the justice had stiffened the sentence in an effort to battle corruption. “What kind of message is Benizri communicating to his children, the next generation, our children, when he vilifies the entire country-”

Benizri’s unprecedented tirade was a continuation of remarks he made directly upon exiting the prison Thursday, when he was welcomed by his family and his supporters and proceeded to read a prepared speech to the television cameras: “I want to thank my parents and my family who supported me even in the face of this terrible plot that was concocted against me. Thank you to the people who accompanied me, the thousands of supporters who sent letters and signed a petition that was ignored by the president. Thank you to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef who gave me strength and encouraged me throughout my incarceration to overcome this great injustice.”

Having completed the thanks, he turned to the accusations, saying, “No thanks to the legal system, from its most junior employee to its highest authority, for acting unfairly and insensitively – they were not seeking justice, only revenge. The legal system framed me. I am innocent. I wonder how Justice Edmond Levy’s hand didn’t tremble when he tripled my sentence, citing a ‘price tag.’ What am I? A price at a supermarket? I didn’t pocket a single shekel.”

Benizri, who only moments earlier had become a free citizen, continued pointing fingers saying, “We suffer from media and legal cannibalism – everyone rushes to wage battle. I saw what they did to the president [Benizri’s cellmate Moshe Katsav who was convicted of rape]. One of the worst injustices committed in Israel’s history ends today. I cried out that I was innocent but my voice was never heard. No one came to my defense. I didn’t get to be Marwan Barghouti who enjoyed the support of MKs and ministers from the Left after murdering many Jews.”

Benizri then directly addressed President Shimon Peres, who had rejected his request for a pardon, saying, “Why did you ignore my pardon and the pain of thousands-”

“I will not go underground,” Benizri continued, outlining his future plans. “You will hear from me. I am embarking on a new path – not politics. The state of Israel has marked me with turpitude but the people of Israel don’t feel that way.”

Indeed, Benizri was welcomed with cries of joy upon his arrival at the home of Rabbi Yosef, the spiritual leader of the Shas party. The rabbi slapped him gently on the cheek in his traditional gesture of affection and told him “may you live many pleasant years – a good life. Be strong.”

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