The 73-year-old Sternhell is a professor of political science at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. “The attempt to hurt Professor Sternhell is the result of the lenient attitude and weakness of the law enforcement agencies towards the extremist and fascist Right and the settlers in the Palestinian occupied territories” said a Communist Party of Israel declaration following the attack. And more: “This thuggish, dangerous act is the result of closing our eyes to the violence against Palestinians, peace and Left activists and all those who disagree with the thugs of the extremist Right. Don’t talk to us about ‘fringe groups’, this is a growing phenomenon in the Right and the police must take care of it”.
Fliers were found in the streets near Sternhell’s home promising a reward of 1.1 million shekels to anyone who kills a member of Peace Now. “The time has come for a state according to the Jewish Law in Judea and Samaria! The time has come for the Kingdom of Judea!” called the fliers.
