Youth injured on Tisha B’Av

Monday, August 19, 2019, 9:56 During the Tisha B’Av fast, which was commemorated on Sunday, August 11 this year, a group of Jewish youths was walking through the streets of the Old City of Jerusalem while participating in “Circling the Gates”, when a group of Arab youths surrounded them. The youths started to shove each other while calling out insults. As policemen who were in the area were attempting to separate the youths suddenly one of the Arab youths pulled out a glass bottle and smashed it over the head of one of the Jewish youths. He was rushed, heavily bleeding, to the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital for medical treatment, including stitches.
During his stay in the hospital the police investigators did not take testimony from the youth and neither have any updates been received regarding either apprehension of the assailant or even the investigation. After his release from the hospital the youth went to the Shomron Police to file a complaint and give testimony. Honenu is assisting the youth with legal proceedings in order to see that the assailant is apprehended and tried.
“The incident occurred in front of the policemen, many witnesses and in a place filmed by security cameras,” wrote Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher in a letter he sent to the investigative branch of the Merchav David (Old City) Police. “The site has a network of private ‘Mabat 2000’ security cameras. In light of the severity of the incident, I demand a thorough investigation, including immediately obtaining [the recordings from] the security cameras in the area.”
After the incident Bleicher said, “This was a serious incident during which there was a concern for a severe head injury that was dispelled only at the hospital,” said Bleicher after the incident. “An intentional injury is a serious act. We turned to the police so that they could detain suspects and we are waiting to hear updates. We will do everything so that the relevant suspect will stand trial and be tried to the full extent of the law for the injury he inflicted.”