Israeli Juvenile Court Judge Noam Shilo has issued a public apology after sparking outrage by comparing Palestinian minors who entered Israel illegally to Jews during the Holocaust.

The remarks were made in response to a complaint filed against him with the Judicial Ombudsman, retired judge Asher Kula, following controversial comments Shilo made during a court proceeding involving two Palestinian teenagers.

“I deeply regret what was said. I had absolutely no intention of harming the sacred memory of the Holocaust and the terrible tragedy that befell the Jewish people during World War II,” Judge Shilo wrote in his response.

He added, “I should not have shared my feelings, even in an off-the-record conversation.”

Shilo also noted that many members of both his father’s and mother’s families were murdered during the Holocaust in mass shootings and extermination camps in Poland, Latvia, and Ukraine.

According to Shilo’s explanation, the hearing involved two approximately 14-year-old minors who, he said, appeared “malnourished, thin, weakened, and younger than their age.”

After deciding to release the minors without issuing an order against them, prosecutors requested a delay in implementation of the ruling in order to file an appeal.

Shilo stated that during an off-the-record discussion with prosecutors and defense attorneys, he expressed sympathy for the teenagers, who had allegedly entered Israel to sell inexpensive products to drivers near the Tira-Taybeh junction. He said their appearance reminded him of children during World War II who attempted to bring food home to their families.

The judge emphasized that he ultimately agreed to delay his ruling for 24 hours, during which the minors remained in custody. The following day, the Central-Lod District Court accepted the state’s appeal, convicted the minors, and sentenced them to prison terms equivalent to the time they had already spent in detention while waiving financial penalties.

“I apologize from the depths of my heart to anyone who was hurt or may have been hurt by my statement,” Shilo wrote, adding that he would continue judging minors “with dedication,” as he has throughout nearly 17 years serving as a juvenile court judge.

Judicial Ombudsman Asher Kula accepted the apology and wrote in his ruling: “One who admits and abandons his wrongdoing will be shown mercy. A judge who courageously acknowledges his mistake and retracts it actually strengthens public trust in both himself and the judicial system.”

The controversy first emerged last month in a report by i24NEWS, which revealed that Shilo had presided over the case of two 15-year-old Palestinian minors who infiltrated Israel after climbing over the security fence and were later apprehended by police.

At the time, the judge declined to convict or punish them, citing their age and physical condition. During the hearing, he remarked: “They remind me of Jews who stole potatoes during the Holocaust.”

The comparison triggered widespread public backlash, prompting prosecutors to appeal the ruling. The District Court later overturned the decision, convicted the two minors, and imposed prison sentences.

In an earlier statement, the judicial system’s spokesperson’s office said the judge’s comments “stemmed from the human association that arose in light of the minors’ young and emaciated appearance, which reflected their distress and nothing more.”

{Matzav.com}