Attempted lynching in Bat Yam:
Tel Aviv District Court Judge Bnei Sagi today (Thursday) convicted Yaakov Cohen of lynching incidents in Bat Yam during Operation Guardian in May, after admitting in an amended indictment as part of a plea deal of aggravated assault in circumstances Aggravated, disorderly conduct, violent rioting, racist chants and attempted lynching.
In addition, two minors who also took part in the Indian events yesterday as part of a plea deal, before the Tel Aviv District Court for offenses of terrorist act and more, and in accordance with the law they were sent for a review by the probation service before deciding whether to convict.
The restaurant that was vandalized in Bat Yam, Photo: Yehoshua Yosef
The amended indictments filed against the two minor defendants attribute calls to the first minor to hit Arabs and throw a bottle at a restaurant owned by an Arab citizen, and the two minors participate in the assault on Issa Musa and his vehicle.
The first minor was charged with aggravated assault, incitement to violence, incitement to racism and disorderly conduct resulting in racial motive, the second minor was charged with aggravated felony and intentional sabotage of a vehicle with a racist motive.
The plea agreements signed with the three defendants do not include agreements regarding the sentence.
The incidents took place during Operation The Guardian in May, and during this period an organization began to be published on social media to harm Arab citizens and businesses owned by Arab citizens on the promenade in Bat Yam.
The amended indictment against Cohen, filed by the Tel Aviv District Attorney's Office, states that on May 12, dozens of people came to the Bat Yam promenade in order to harm businesses belonging to Arab citizens. Among other things, the rioters smashed windows of businesses owned by Arab citizens, and called Repeated calls for harm to the Arabs.At that time Cohen was on the promenade and watching the actions of the rioters, until at some point he went down to the promenade.
Policemen in Bat Yam during the "Guard of the Walls"
At one point, Issa Musa arrived with his vehicle on the promenade, when one of the rioters approached him and asked him if he was an Arab.
He replied in the affirmative and in response was punched, while the attacker shouted "here is the Arab, here is an Arab."
Musa, who sensed danger, tried to escape from the rioters and drove his vehicle backwards, while dozens of rioters chased after him and shouted "Arab, Arab," but collided with a vehicle standing behind him.
Following this, Musa tried to flee in a fast-moving forward, but collided with another vehicle and had no escape route.
When the collision occurred, Cohen was on the sidewalk and he slammed a glass into Musa's vehicle and kicked the vehicle.
Following this, the rioters attacked Musa, forcibly removed him from the vehicle, electrocuted him with a shocker, knocked him to the floor and beat him with fists, kicks and a telescopic bat, even after he tried to get up.
During the events, Cohen kicked Musa in the upper body, until passers-by stopped the attack and defended Musa.
Later, while Musa was rushed to the ambulance on a stretcher, Cohen tried to attack him with his hand, but was repulsed by one of those present.
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