Court frees haredi who spat on woman

J'lem court orders to release Meir David Eisenbach on bail after news cameras caught him spitting on a woman

Yoav Malka|Published: 12.25.11 , 17:36

The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court ordered the release on bail of Beit Shemesh resident Meir David Eisenbach on Sunday. The 27-year-old haredi man was caught on camera spitting on a woman who passed by him. Judge Avital Chen banned him from the city for seven days.

The young haredi was arrested after a complaint was filed against him last Tuesday. Eisenbach was also identified after Channel 2's Ulpan Shishi (Friday night news program) caught the incident on tape.

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According to Eisenbach's attorney, even though the act was "serious, hurtful and offensive" this kind of event does not justify extending one's remand. "The only reason we're here is because of the media buzz surrounding this story. The court must not be affected by such gusts of wind, as powerful as they might be," he stated.

אייזנבך בבית המשפט. "מתנגד עקרונית ליריקה" (צילום: נועם מושקוביץ)

Eisenbach at Jerusalem court (Photo: Noam Moskowitz)

The defense attorney mentioned a similar case last week in which the court was quick to release a different haredi man who spat on a woman. "That decision means that spitting on a man doesn't justify a request to extend the remand. My client claimed he generally opposes spitting on people, and certainly on women. He explained he wanted to join a protest when a camera was stuck in his face, so he spat to the side instead."

The prosecution's representative claimed that "Eisenbach spat in a demonstrative manner towards the woman, who wasn't dressed according to his preference, and with his behavior he disturbed public peace and attacked her." Despite these claims, the request to extend the remand of Eisenbach by 48 hours was not granted.

Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch said during a government meeting on the exclusion of women that 21 people have been arrested recently for suspected hostility towards women. Nine have been charged.