Police Close Case of Visually Impaired Man Attacked Over Guide Dog's Waste

Israeli police have closed the investigation into the assault of Kochavi Rafael Kochavi, a visually impaired resident of Holon, who was attacked approximately two months ago in a park near his home. The attack occurred after Kochavi allegedly failed to pick up after his guide dog. Kochavi told Ynet that police were unable to locate the suspect, leading to the case's closure. He expressed deep sadness and frustration, stating, "Apparently, the blind in Israel are not that important." Members of the blind community are reportedly shocked by the police's decision to close the case, with Kochavi emphasizing that this incident crossed a line, unlike previous attacks on blind individuals. He noted that surveillance cameras captured the assault and the perpetrator, but the police have not identified him. Kochavi recounted that the attacker approached him, demanded he collect the dog's waste, and when Kochavi explained he was blind, the man called him a liar and began to assault him, throwing dog feces and kicking him. He described being left alone by bystanders until he called the police himself. A neighbor later provided a statement to the police, but Kochavi feels the police did not actively pursue the suspect, contrasting their efforts with how they would handle vandalism cases. He described ongoing trauma from the attack, experiencing fear with any sudden noise behind him. In response, Israel Police stated that an investigation was immediately opened upon receiving the complaint, involving various investigative actions. However, after exhausting all investigative avenues without identifying the suspect, the case was closed "at this stage," with the possibility of reopening it if new information emerges.