Photograph of Israel president in Palestinian scarf sparks investigation

JERUSALEM: Israeli police have initiated a probe after President Reuven Rivlin’s photo, reportedly photoshopped, wearing a Palestinian scarf emerged amid anger over his decision to reject a soldier’s pardon request.

Earlier on Sunday, Rivlin had refused to pardon Elor Azaria, an Israeli soldier convicted of manslaughter. The soldier had shot a wounded Palestinian dead as he lay on the ground last year.

Rivlin’s decision is being strongly criticised by the Right-wing politicians.

Country’s Culture Minister Miri Regev said that he had abandoned Elor Azaria and harmed the pardoning institution.

Rivlin’s Facebook page quickly filled with messages of support but also scathing criticism, with responders telling him he was “no longer my president,” as one wrote, or accusing him of “fawning to appease your Arab and Leftwing friends,” as another said.

Populist lawmaker Oren Hazan of the ruling Likud party had even called on Rivlin to resign. He also demanded that the pardoning authority should move from the presidency to the parliament.

Israeli police had launched a probe after an image of Rivlin wearing a keffiyah scarf was circulated on social media.

The reported photoshopped picture features a smiling Rivlin on the backdrop of books, with a Palestinian symbol and the words “Reuven Rivlin a traitorous Jew-boy may his name and memory be accursed” in Hebrew.

Earlier in 1995, posters of Israeli slain premier Yitzhak Rabin had appeared in a keffiyah before his assassination by a Jewish extremist.