Ibrahim Abu Ta’a

Suspected hate crime: Arab man assaulted in Jerusalem

East Jerusalem man claims he was attacked by Jewish youths for being Arab, says attack left him with broken leg. 'The minute they heard my name, they began hitting me,' he says

Noam (Dabul) Dvir|Published: 09.06.12 , 23:08

Jerusalem police are investigating an Arab man's claim that he was attacked on Wednesday night by Jewish youths just for being an Arab.

Ibrahim Abu Ta’a, 28, an east Jerusalem resident who works at a local hotel, claims that he was the victim of a racist attack. According to Abu Ta'a, the assault occurred as he dropped off a co-worker after leaving a work event.

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As result of the attack, Abu Ta'a was left with a broken leg.

Abu Ta'a said that after the work event ended, around midnight, one of his female colleagues asked him to accompany her home as she was intoxicated. "I was with two Jewish friends from work," he said adding that "when we got to her apartment, a group of seven or eight Jewish youths, aged 16-20 asked us what we were doing there.

"When they heard my female co-worker say 'Ibrahim, don't talk to them,' they began beating me on my leg with an iron rod."

Abu Ta'a said he was convinced that this was a racially motivated attack. "They didn't hit any of my Jewish friends," he said.

"It lasted about a minute or two. When my friend called the police, the gang fled the scene," he added.

He further said that he did not do anything to the Jewish youths. "I didn't speak to them, provoke them or attack them. The minute they heard my name, they started hitting me. That was it."

Officials at the Jerusalem District Police said that investigators are still trying to understand the motive behind the attack. "The area has been canvassed. The investigation will continue and arrests are expected to be made," one official said.

This incident comes just weeks after a group of Jewish youths attacked several young Arab men in Jerusalem's Zion Square.