A heated argument between young Jews and Bedouins at a gas station in Eilat quickly turned violent. Security footage taken from the station's convenience store eventually led to an indictment against two Beit Shemesh residents, aged 23 and 27, who were charged with involvement in the stabbing of a Bedouin, Ynet reported Sunday.
One of the Jews reportedly told a hospital security guard, "We fought two Arabs. My friend slashed him twice in the face with an X-Acto knife – tore his face open."
According to the indictment, which was filed with the Beersheba District Court, an argument erupted at the checkout line, when one of the Bedouins asked to pay so he could leave the store. One of the Jews asked him, 'Why, where do you have to be?" and mocked his haircut. The Bedouin again asked the cashier what his total came to, and then turned to one of the Jews and said, "I don't like drunks – your smell is killing me."
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One of the defendants then threatened the Bedouin, saying "Do you know what we'll do to you? We are from the Abergil family." One of them added, "You're black. Do you know who you're dealing with?"
At this point, one of the defendants stepped out of the store and returned with an X-Acto knife in hand. The second defendant began hitting the Bedouin, who eventually managed to leave the store and get into his friends' vehicle. However, the two defendants blocked the vehicle with a truck. One of them proceeded to step out of the truck and began exchanging blows with one of the Bedouins, who was carrying a rod.
The defendant cut the Bedouin's face and hands with the knife, and then fled the scene with his friend.
Attorney Zohar Arbel, who is representing one of the defendants, said the security footage "only shows a partial picture" of what transpired and claimed that the complainants had provoked the young Jewish men.
"This was nothing more than a spontaneous brawl. My client did not hurt and certainly did not stab any of the complainants,' the lawyer said.
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