The youths’ car, after security forces arrived; Photo credit: Honenu
Wednesday, January 12, 2022, 9:40 In July 2021, three Jewish youths were injured in a shockingly brutal mob attack in the Arab town of Hawara in the Shomron region. Despite the length of time that has passed, no report has been made of detained suspects. Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher, who is representing the victims, sent a letter to the Central Unit of Yehuda and Shomron Police demanding that the police conduct a thorough investigation, detain the suspects, and bring them to trial. Initially, the injured youths were unjustly detained and interrogated as suspects. Now, in light of an announcement that the youths are not accused of a price-tag incident or other act of terror, Bleicher is insisting that they be granted their rights as victims of terror.
Bleicher described his requests for the police to update him on developments in the investigation and for them to arrange payment of the evacuation in an ambulance of one of the youths. The youth had the status of detainee when he was evacuated, and therefore the police are responsible for the cost of the ambulance ride. Approximately two months ago, the police replied that the case was under investigation, but ignored Bleicher’s other requests.
Map of the area; Google maps (click to enlarge)
The incident occurred on the night of July 21, 2021. The three Jewish youths were driving in the Gav HaHar area on the old road (Route 5076) passing the Arab town of Jamma’in when they were brutally attacked by rioting Arabs. The Arabs identified the youths as Jews, chased them in cars and also on foot in a mob. At some point, where the road connects with the main street through Hawara (Route 60), one of the Arabs’ cars rammed the youths’ car. Then the mob beat the youths, two of whom escaped. The third was injured and remained at the site. A large number of army and police forces, and also medical personnel, arrived, assisted the injured youth and evacuated him to Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva.
Throughout the night, army forces and civilian volunteers searched for the two youths who had fled. In the morning, the youths were located, exhausted and battered, at the outer hills of Yitzhar, after they had hidden all night in the open near Hawara out of fear that the Arab mob would find them. They were detained two days later.
On the day after the attack, despite his severe injuries, the hospitalized youth was taken by the GSS for interrogation and was initially not allowed to meet with an attorney. Two days later, he met with Honenu Attorney Nati Rom, gave him horrific details of the attack, and showed him scars and cigarette burns. Rom was also informed that Arab Israeli citizens from Natzrat had been among the rioters.
One of the injured youths; Video credit: From Arabic social media