Memorial defaced over Hamas deal

A MEMORIAL in Tel Aviv to slain Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin was defaced overnight by a man angry at the government’s decision to swap 1027 Palestinian prisoners for soldier Gilad Shalit, police said yesterday.

Shvuel Schijveschurder, 27, splashed paint on the memorial marking the spot where Mr Rabin was assassinated by a right-wing extremist in 1995.

Schijveschurder lost his parents and three siblings during the bombing of the Sbaro restaurant in Jerusalem in August 2001 and one of those responsible is likely to be among those released in the swap,

A police spokeswoman said he had “mental health issues”.

But far-right politician Michael Ben-Ari voiced understanding for his action, saying Schijveschurder “delicately expressed the outrage of victims of terror” over the deal with Hamas, which was approved on Tuesday.