Sunday, August 6, 2023, 14:02 Today (Sunday), Knesset Member Tali Gottlieb (Likud) visited the hospitalized – and detained – Oz Tzion resident who was seriously injured by Arab rioters on Shabbat. He suffered a head injury and underwent an operation at Sha’arei Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem. MK Gottlieb, who was outraged by the sight of the injured detainee, leveled sharp criticism at the police for the detention and at the IDF for a false announcement by the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit. She also called for the arrest of the attackers.
MK Tali Gottlieb recorded and shared a video clip after her visit (Hebrew, see Honenu’s translation below)
“I went to Sha’arei Tzedek Hospital to see with my own eyes this insane situation. Someone from Yehuda and Shomron had his skull shattered for taking his flock out to graze in a pasture. He did not enter an Arab town as the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit falsely announced. He underwent neurosurgery yesterday, he’s in intensive care, and also detained!” MK Gottlieb was outraged. She added, “There is a judge in Israel who determined that this man, who encountered a group of violent Palestinian terrorists, [should be remanded]. You must see this with your own eyes.”
MK Gottlieb addressed the comparison of the recent terror attack in Tel Aviv to that in Binyamin: “I say it again, connecting that terrorist from Jenin who attacked in Tel Aviv with Yehuda and Shomron residents who graze their sheep in areas that are at most disputed, is unacceptable. I saw with my own eyes a weakened man with a very serious head injury, hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit. This is a badge of shame for all of us. The mendacious announcement by the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit fed the public with false information for hours. [The hospitalized man] is a terror victim who in any other city would have received recognition, and the Palestinians would have found themselves behind bars,” she concluded.
On Saturday night, after Shabbat, a hearing was held at the Jerusalem Magistrates Court for the Oz Tzion residents who were injured by dozens of Arabs rioters on Shabbat. It was revealed at the hearing that the police and the GSS had neither detained nor interrogated any of the rioters. The seriously injured resident was not brought to the hearing because of his medical condition. At the conclusion of the hearing, the court extended the remand of both residents until Wednesday. They are suspected of causing the death of one of the Arab rioters. Honenu Attorney Nati Rom is representing the injured defendant and Honenu Attorney Avichai Hajbi is defending the other.
Background
On Friday, August 4, shortly before the onset of Shabbat, near Oz Tzion in the Binyamin region, dozens of Arab rioters attacked a Jewish shepherd and local Jewish residents who came to his assistance. The incident began when the Jewish shepherd left Oz Tzion to graze his flock in the area between Oz Tzion and the nearby Arab town of Burqa. Several Arabs approached and threatened him. The shepherd, who felt that he was in danger, summoned other Oz Tzion residents who came to stay with him and prevent the situation from deteriorating.
Dozens of Arabs armed with clubs, fireworks, and large rocks surrounded the Oz Tzion residents. The Arabs launched fireworks directly at the residents and hurled the rocks at them from point-blank range, endangering their lives. The residents called the army and civilian security forces for help. One resident was hit in the head with a rock and seriously injured. With his remaining strength, he opened fire with his legally-owned personal weapon to defend his life. Several other residents were slightly injured. According to media reports, one of the Arab rioters was killed.