Honenu Attorney Menashe Yado; Photo credit: Honenu
Monday, August 28, 2023, 8:10 Four years ago, an Arab attacked a Jewish man who was running through alleys in the Old City of Jerusalem. The assailant was arrested, convicted of assault, and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment. The victim was also awarded NIS 2,000. Currently, Honenu is suing the assailant in civil court for NIS 75,000 on behalf of the victim. Honenu Attorney Menashe Yado filed the suit.
The indictment describes the attack: “On January 31, 2019, the complainant was running on Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem. He wore a kippa and a tallit with tzitzit. The defendant’s brother, a minor, noticed the complainant and asked him, ‘What are you doing here, you S.O.B?’ The complainant turned around, approached the brother, and an argument broke out between them. Shortly afterward, a group of people, whose identities are unknown, gathered around the complainant and the brother. One of the people tried to push the complainant away, and repeatedly shoved him. The complainant turned around, threw a punch, and kicked at him. The other people at the site tried to separate them, and as they did, they beat the complainant. The defendant’s brother also beat the complainant. Then the defendant beat the complainant as he tried to defend himself. The defendant’s brother joined the defendant and continued to beat the complainant.
“The complainant tried to escape, but the defendant and his brother did not release their grasp on him, and continued to beat him. Some of the other people on the scene tried to separate them, in an attempt to protect the complainant. The defendant and his brother continued beating the complainant. The defendant pulled off his belt and whipped the complainant several times. Many additional people, whose identities are unknown, arrived on the scene, shielded the defendant with their bodies, and pulled the defendant and his brother away from the site. The complainant suffered three bruises on his shoulders, scratches, swelling, and scrapes on his neck.”
Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher, the head of Honenu’s Terror Victims Department, stated, “Islamist terror takes every opportunity to attack Jews and try to drive them out of Jerusalem. Filing a civil suit against an antisemitic assailant compensates the victim, but also creates deterrence. In our experience, many times, hurting an assailant in his pocket is more painful than the criminal proceedings and penalty. We will continue to deter attacks on Jews, and to ensure that all Jews are confident that they have the fundamental right to stroll, jog, and exercise anywhere in Jerusalem. Anyone who tries to deprive them of that right will pay dearly.”