Passersby reported today, Saturday, that a statue of David Ben-Gurion was burned on the beach in the city of Tel Aviv. Hours later, a 34-year-old street resident was arrested on suspicion of burning the statue. Municipal cameras documented that an individual approached the statue around 05:25. The police have launched an investigation. The Tel Aviv municipality removed the burned statue from the beach and announced that it would be replaced as soon as possible.
In response to the incident, Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldaei posted on “X,” stating: “It is very sad that at the beginning of the new year, someone decided to vandalize one of the city’s most beloved statues, the symbol of Israel - David Ben-Gurion. We will renew the statue so that it can stand again as soon as possible and bring joy back to the city's residents, especially the children.”
Eitan Donitz, CEO of the Ben-Gurion Heritage Institute, commented: “The famous statue of Ben-Gurion, standing on its head, was burned last night. I hope and wish this does not turn into an act of arson. This statue tells the story of Ben-Gurion as a person and a leader, and thanks to him, we live here together today. Alongside all this, let us remember that there are no saints in democratic countries, and Ben-Gurion is not a saint either. Debate and disagreement are the cornerstones of democracy. We call at this time to extinguish the flames and engage in a real and internal discussion because this is the democratic rule of the game.”
