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
Thursday, April 20, 2023, 15:16 The Yoshvaev family, who lives in the Shimon HaTzadik neighborhood of Jerusalem, has filed a 1,300,000 NIS civil suit against an adolescent terrorist (a minor) and an adult accomplice who were involved in a terrorist attack on their house in February 2022. The minor and his accomplice were arrested by the police and indicted for and convicted of arson, weapon production, racially and maliciously motivated damage, and after-the-fact assistance.
The minor was sentenced to two and a half years’ imprisonment. His accomplice, Jamal Hosseini, a student at Bezalel Academy at the time of the attack, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment. They were also given suspended sentences and required to pay the victims 7,000 NIS in compensation. In addition, three additional terrorists were arrested and convicted of arson and other acts of terror. As of today, they have not been sentenced.
Following the sentencing of the minor and his accomplice in criminal proceedings, the victims of this assault are suing for compensation with the Jerusalem District Court. Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher, who filed the civil suit on their behalf, detailed the damage caused to them by the arson and the emotional pain and suffering that they experienced and continue to experience. Within the framework of the suit, the victims are asking the court to impose punitive damages as the terrorist assault was racially and nationalistically motivated. In addition, Attorney Bleicher intends to file a suit for damages against the other three terrorists following their sentencing.
Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher commented on the case: “The Yoshvaev family has suffered serious terror attacks on their house day after day by a gang of terrorists. After their arrest, it was understood that the members of the gang are residents of the same neighborhood who live near the family. Understandably these terror assaults have had serious effects on all the family members including their children. Despite the attacks and the price they exact, the Yoshvaev family has stayed firm serving as a shield for the residents of Jerusalem against murderous terror gangs. The time has come to exact a price from terrorists and their accomplices, to deter terrorists and to compensate victims of terror. We will make every effort to sue everyone involved in acts of terror.”
The February 2022 fire that broke out as a result of the arson caused heavy damage to the family’s property, but miraculously the family was saved as they were not at home. However, they were forced to live elsewhere while their house underwent repairs. Several terrorists hurled Molotov cocktails at the home. The flames set fire to the home, severely damaging the children’s bedroom in particular. For this incident and other attacks on the family’s house, one minor from the neighborhood and three adults have been indicted. The terrorists have each been indicted for their part in the following crimes: arson, weapon production, carrying a weapon, racially and maliciously motivated damage, attempted arson as an act of terror, aggravated assault in an act of terror, and operating a weapon as an act of terror.