Jerusalem: Haredim attack elderly Arab

Eyewitness says ultra-Orthodox hit Arabs with belts, yelled 'death to Arabs' following demonstration near Mea Shearim

Gili Elkabetz|Published: 06.07.12 , 09:22

A number of ultra-Orthodox attacked an elederly Arab and an Arab family following a violent demonstration in Jerusalem against the desecration of the Sabbath, Ynet reported.

An eyewitness said the attack, which took place Saturday evening near the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim, was "shocking."

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"The haredim used to just yell 'Shabbos,' but the situation is gradually escalating, and now they throw stones at passing cars and set up roadblocks," said the eyewitness, who lives nearby.

"We call the police, and when a squad car arrives they (haredim) run away. When the squad car leaves, they return. It's a kind of game."

Last Saturday, the eyewitness said, several dozen ultra-Orthodox – mostly teens and little children – stayed at the intersection (corner of Nevi'im and Dvora streets) followingthe demonstration "in search of a victim. They surrounded an elderly Arab man, shoved him and threw stuff at him. It could have ended in a lynching.

"I immediately intervened and tried to help him. They shoved me, threw garbage at me and called me a 'stinking leftist,'" he recounted.

Later, the eyewitness said, the haredim attacked an Arab woman and her two children with belts while yelling "death to Arabs." Border Guard officers who were dispatched to the scene dispersed the crowd.

"It was frightening, sad and disgraceful," the eyewitness said.