A week later, Netanyahu calls killing of autistic Palestinian a 'tragedy'

“What happened was a tragedy. This is a man with disabilities, with autism, unjustly suspected, and we expect it to be fully checked. We all join in the family’s grief — it encompasses the entire Israeli public as well as the entire Israeli government,” said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on June 7.

Netanyahu was referring to the killing of autistic Palestinian Iyad Halak at Jerusalem Old City’s Lions’ Gate nine days earlier on May 30. Netanyahu's political partner, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, had already addressed the killing a day after it happened, stating on May 31, “We apologize for the shooting; we will investigate the incident.’’ Gantz made his statement at the opening of the Cabinet’s weekly meeting, but Netanyahu said nothing at the time.