Please click here for a list of posts relating to cases in which Honenu provided legal counsel to victims of antisemitic attacks in Jerusalem.
Arson damage; Photo courtesy of the family
Monday, July 14, 2025, 12:06 In criminal proceedings in January 2023, the Jerusalem District Court convicted two terrorists, Muataz Haj Mahmud and Bilal Jabari, of the February 2022 Molotov cocktail arson attack on the Yoshvaev family’s house in the Shimon HaTzadik neighborhood of Jerusalem. The indictment states that the terrorists, whose motives were racist and nationalistic, hurled Molotov cocktails at the house and also set fire to the Yoshvaev family’s car several times. The terrorists were first sentenced in June 2023, and the sentences were increased in November 2024. Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher filed a civil suit for financial compensation on behalf of Tal and Reut Yoshvaev, and their children in December 2024.
The Yoshvaev family demanded compensation for emotional distress and special damages, and also punitive compensation in accordance with the Terror Victim Compensation Law. Jerusalem District Court Judge Eran Shilo accepted all of their demands and awarded them NIS 1,608,000. Additionally, the defendants were ordered to pay NIS 160,800 in attorneys’ fees. Neither defendant filed a statement of defense in the civil suit.
According to the statement of claim and the attached affidavits, the Yoshvaev family was subjected to repeated antisemitic terror attacks. The terrorists hurled Molotov cocktails at their home, which is partially built out of wood. The flames set fire to the home, the fire being particularly intense in the children’s bedroom. Fortunately, the family was not at home at the time. After the arson attack, the family was forced to live away from their home while the damage was being repaired. The terrorists also set the family’s car on fire.
Reut described the attack in an affidavit: “My husband, my children, and I fell victim to a violent, cruel, racially motivated attack, only because we are Jews. We were subjected to repeated terror attacks that caused me and my family to feel persecuted in our own home. Time after time, we felt that our lives were in genuine danger. Our house and car were torched!”
The statement of claim detailed the property damage and the pain and suffering that the family experienced, the effects of which are still felt today. Tal was forced to forgo a year of academic studies. At the time of the attack and while the family was unable to live in their house, Reut was in an advanced stage of pregnancy and then caring for her newborn child. The parents testified that they and their children suffered emotional difficulties from being forced to move from house to house, which disrupted the family’s stability, and adversely affects them to this day.
The Yoshvaev family commented on the ruling: “We greatly thank Honenu and in particular Attorney Chayim Bleicher. We hope that the law enforcement authorities will actually exact the compensation from the terrorists. Every terrorist must know that attacking Jews will cost him dearly.”
Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher, who is representing the family as victims of terror added, “Everyone who commits an act of terror against Israel must know that we will pursue them until they pay a high price for their acts. Israel is in a never-ending war against those who seek to harm on all fronts, including against the enemy within the cities of Israel, and even in the capital city of Jerusalem. Suing terrorists is an important facet of the economic front in the war on terror, and we are honored to do our part.”
Several terrorists hurled Molotov cocktails at the home of the Yoshvaev family in the Shimon HaTzadik neighborhood of Jerusalem in February 2022. The flames set fire to the home, and the fire was particularly strong in the children’s bedroom. Fortunately, the family was not at home at the time. For this incident and other attacks on the family’s house, Haj Mahmud and Jabari were indicted for arson, weapon production, carrying a weapon, racially and maliciously motivated damage, attempted arson as an act of terror, aggravated assault as an act of terror, and operating a weapon as an act of terror. A minor who set fire to the Yoshvaevs’ house was sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment. A 7,000 NIS fine was also imposed on him, and he was required to pay Yoshvaev 7,000 NIS in compensation. The Jerusalem District Juvenile Court ruled that the minor’s motive was racist but did not convict him of an act of terror. Another suspect in the case was convicted of aiding and abetting.
Since Operation Guardian of the Walls, the Yoshvaev family has suffered close to 20 acts of terror including fireworks shot from point-blank range at their sukka while Tal was sleeping in it, nine vehicular arson attacks, two Molotov cocktails thrown at their house, an array of fireworks launched at their yard, and many bottles of paint thrown at their car. For more details, see here and here. In February 2022, the police closed off the home of the Yoshvaev family to guests and visitors, including workers who were needed to repair arson damage. The barriers were removed one month later in light of a petition to the High Court of Justice.
Arson damage; Video courtesy of the family