Sunday, September 14, 2025, 7:54 Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher filed an NIS 360,00 civil suit with the Hadera Magistrates Court against three Arab residents of Umm al-Fahm who attacked three Jews serving as observers on behalf of the Likud party in northern Israel during the 2019 elections.
The observers filed a complaint at the police station over the attack. The police opened an investigation and detained several suspects. However, a year ago, the State Attorney’s office closed the case, despite evidence against the attackers including video recordings from security cameras of the attack. Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher appealed the decision.
Jewish Likud observers escaping Umm al-Fahm, 2019 elections;
Video credit: Security camera
In the statement of claim, Attorney Bleicher described the attack: “On April 9, 2019, several people attacked the appellees as they tried to exercise their right to vote at a polling station at the Al-Mutanabi School in Umm al-Fahm. The appellees, who were serving as observers in the town and were not able to vote at a polling station at their place of residence, needed to vote shortly before the polls closed, and went to the nearest ‘accessible polling station’ in Umm al-Fahm. When they arrived at the site, they were stopped by a police officer who took their identification cards and started to check them. A large number of Arabs gathered around the appellees in a threatening manner, and then some of them started attacking the appellees. Sensing that their lives were endangered, the appellees forfeited their right to vote, and hurried to leave the site.
“As they entered their car and tried to leave, Arabs blocked them with a vehicle and a motorcycle. The appellees evaded [the barrier] and drove away. Then, their nightmare journey on the streets of the city began. Arabs in several cars and the aforementioned motorcyclist chased them. At some point, a traffic jam formed and the appellees’ were forced to stop. The Arabs got out of their cars and beat the appellees’ car with batons, shattering the windshield. The appellees felt that their lives were endangered, but fortunately escaped. When they reached El-Ayoun Intersection, their car was blocked again. The assailants got out of their cars and tried to open the appellees’ car doors. Some of them struck the car and threw objects at it. The appellees maintained their composure and extricated themselves from the situation. In the end, they escaped the attack and fled the city, hitting another car during the escape.”
Attorney Bleicher: “An Arab mob attacked three Jews and pursued them in a lift-threatening chase. They had a determined aim to murder Jews, and the scene of the attack turned into unrestrained chaos. Thanks to a genuine miracle and the quickwittedness of the driver, they escaped by the skin of their teeth. Not even one ‘Israeli’ Arab bothered to call the police or try to prevent the murderous rioting. Unfortunately, the police officer at the polling station also did not call for officers to rescue the Jews.
“After we applied pressure and demanded action from the police, they intensified the investigation and gathered evidence. Several suspects were incriminated. However, for an unclear reason, the State Attorney’s office did not indict anyone. We are currently appealing to the State Attorney’s office for indictments to be filed. We are determined to see justice served. To that end, we have filed a tort claim and demanded punitive compensation with the aim of compensating the victims and creating deterrence. Anyone who considers carrying out an act of terror against Jews must pay a high price.”