Salah Diab; Photo credit: Honenu
Please see here a list of posts relating to cases in which Honenu provided legal counsel to victims of antisemitic attacks in Jerusalem.
Tuesday, May 25, 2021, 10:16 Many victims of the recent Arab rioting throughout Israel have requested assistance from Honenu as victims of terror. Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher, who is representing many of them, demanded in a letter to the Jerusalem District Attorney’s office that cases of Arab rioters be handled stringently, from detentions to maximum penalties in indictments. In his letter, which is summarized below, Bleicher gave examples of the office’s lenience with rioters.
Less than two weeks ago, a resident of the Shimon HaTzadik neighborhood in Jerusalem was attacked by a mob of rioters. In videos [see below] documenting the attack “dozens of Arabs are seen throwing chairs, rocks, and anything they could get their hands on at my client.”
Arab rioting in Shimon HaTzadik; Photo credit: Honenu
The resident shielded others and was hit by rocks, chairs, and metal bars. Among the assailants, Salah Diab, one of the leaders of the rioters in the area, stood out. He was recorded hurling objects at the resident and injuring him.
The police had detained Diab and charged him with a criminal offense, but surprisingly they released him, claiming that there had been reciprocity between the sides. “I would like to object to the distortion on which the Jerusalem District Attorney’s office bases their considerations, a distortion which directly and immediately endangers lives.”
Residents of Shimon HaTzadik have been subjected to attacks for many days and have not initiated any attacks in retaliation. “Everyone who is acquainted with the situation there, including the staff of the office, who are exposed to eyewitness testimonies, know that any reaction from the Jewish residents, when there is one, is within the realm of an attempt to protect and save lives. How can these few acts of defense constitute grounds for releasing terrorists?” This injustice must be rectified and a stiff indictment be filed against Diab, who should also be immediately arrested. “Every terrorist who is released out of erroneous considerations such as these constitutes a failure that leads to more bloodshed by the same terrorists.”
The letter also mentioned last month’s attack on Eli Rozen, concerning which some of the suspects were reported being held by the police. The case is being overseen by the Jerusalem District Attorney’s office. In a similar case, rioters were indicted without being charged with attempted murder.
In conclusion, Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher demanded that the Jerusalem District Attorney’s office “ensure that the terrorists who carried out the vicious attack will be charged with nationalistically motivated attempted murder.”
Arab rioting in Shimon HaTzadik/Sheikh Jarrah; Video credit: Honenu