Scene of stabbing attack
צילום: גיא אסיאג
2 teens indicted for stabbing Arab in Mea Shearim
Jerusalem residents charged with racially-motivated attack on 31-year-old Arab, who sustained moderate to serious wounds
The Jerusalem District Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment Thursday against two city residents, aged 17 and 19, who attacked an Arab from east Jerusalem a year ago in the Mea Shearim neighborhood. They face charges of aggravated assault and jeopardizing human life.
The indictment, which was filed with the Jerusalem District Court, suggests that in December 2008, after the two ascertained their victim was of Arab descent, one of them sprayed him with tear gas. The Arab escaped, but the teens chased him down. One of the defendants proceeded to stab him three times in the back while the other broke florescent light bulbs on the back of his neck, the indictment read.
The 31-year-old Arab tried to flee the scene but collapsed. He was evacuated to the Shaare Zedek Medical Center in moderate to serious condition.
According to the indictment, the Arab remained in the hospital for six days and underwent multiple surgeries.
The indictment said the accused assaulted the Arab due to his "national-ethnic descent."
One of the teens was also charged with throwing a stone at an Arab taxi as it was travelling along Jerusalem's Nevi'im Street just a few days after the stabbing attack.
Attorney David Halevy, who is representing one of the defendants, told Ynet, "My client is denying the allegations. He claims he was present at the scene but did not physically attack the complainant."
