2 teens assault immigrants because they ‘dislike Russians’

Beersheba youths accused of racial harassment, assaulting of elderly men; teens confess their act, prosecution demands they be remanded to custody
Yonat Atlas

Two teenagers aged 14 and 15 from the southern town of Beersheba were accused Monday of using sticks and stones to harrass four elderly men who were playing chess in one of the city parks.

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One of the teens said in his investigation: “I saw a few Russians, so I went over just to bug them – because I don’t like Russians.”

The indictment reveals that the two had arrived at the park where they approached the immigrants. One of them blew smoke in one of the older men’s faces, and proceeded to hit him on his arm with a stick.

One of the immigrants tried to document the event with his cellular phone, but was once again threatened with a stick. The indictment further states that the two threw stones at the four immigrants.

The two teens were arrested Sunday by the Beersheba Juvenile Delinquency Unit commanded by Yossi Zalibansky. During their interrogation, the teens admitted their felonies and justified their actions by saying they dislike adults and Russians.

In addition to the indictment, the Southern District Prosecution asked the two be remanded to custody. One of the teens has a prior juvenile court case pending.

The prosecution wrote in its motion, “There is no proper alternative to counteract the imminent danger of the defendant committing further offences. The public’s interest overpowers the interest in his freedom.”