The Palestinian was indicted Tuesday for trying to drag a Jewish driver from his car in what is being described as an attempted lynching.
By World Israel News Staff
A Palestinian teen, 17, was indicted Tuesday by the Jerusalem District Attorney on charges of an attempting lynching of a Jewish driver on August 10.
The attack took place on Salah ad Din Street in Jerusalem. A Jewish man was driving his car when the youth first attacked the vehicle, smashing its windows. He then turned on the driver.
Many other unidentified Arabs joined in, throwing glass bottles and mugs and using an iron pole to smash the windows. The main suspect also hurled a rock through the back window of the car.
The main suspect, with the help of the others, attempted to drag the driver from his vehicle, kicking and pepper spraying him at a distance of only centimeters, the charges say. The Jewish driver also reportedly received blows on his head.
The driver was vulnerable due to the slow speed he was moving as a result of heavy traffic. He was identified as Jewish by his yarmulke in the heavily Arab neighborhood.
Finally, an Israeli policeman driving in front of the man who was being attacked saw what was happening and fired three times in the air, dispersing the crowd that had gathered.
The police arrested a total of four other suspects in addition to the main suspect, Ma’ariv reports.
The attack took place during a time of heightened tensions. The next day, August 11, riots erupted on the Temple Mount during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha (or “Feast of the Sacrifice”). It coincided with Tisha B’Av, the Jewish holiday marking the destruction of the first and second Temples.
Muslims rioted at news that Jews would be allowed up on the Temple Mount, which they wanted to prevent. Police cleared the holy site and Jews were eventually allowed to visit once calm had been restored.
A video of the attack can be seen below.