Lawyer Demands Reopening of Investigation into Jewish Man’s Lynching Attempt Near Jerusalem
Attorney Chaim Bleicher from the Honenu organization has filed an appeal with the State Prosecutor’s Office demanding the reopening of the investigation into a lynching attempt against a young Jewish man in the village of Nabi Samuel near Jerusalem. The incident occurred about five months ago when the Jewish man was traveling to the Tomb of Samuel the Prophet to study at a yeshiva where his father teaches. While passing through the village, he flashed his headlights at a slow-moving vehicle ahead. The Arab driver then exited his car, verbally assaulted the Jewish man, and physically attacked him with punches, threatening to detain him until local residents could carry out a lynching.
The attacker forcibly held the Jewish man’s car door to prevent his escape, leading to a violent struggle. The attacker’s wife summoned dozens of villagers who threw stones at the Jewish man’s car and attempted to drag him out to beat him. The Jewish man, without a phone, fought for his life, shielding his head and reciting the Shema prayer. A local sheikh intervened, fearing harm to the village, and called the police, preventing the man’s death.
Upon police arrival, the Arab attacker was found with a head injury, reportedly sustained during the Jewish man’s escape attempt, which led authorities to treat the attacker as the victim. The Jewish man was arrested on suspicion of assault despite his protests. Medical staff were told he was a "suspect who attacked Arabs," and he was examined hastily without imaging. The next day, a judge released the Jewish man to house arrest, noting no complaint against him and that his testimony indicated he was the victim. The Jewish man has since suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.
The appeal states that evidence supports the Jewish man’s account, including the attacker’s blood on the car door and testimony from the attacker’s son witnessing his father’s aggressive behavior. The attacker and his wife have not explained the extensive damage to the Jewish man’s vehicle. Body camera footage shows the police officer fearing for his safety and wanting to leave quickly to avoid a lynching.
Attorney Bleicher demands the police and prosecution reopen the case, investigate the attacker for attempted murder, arrest other suspects involved in the lynching, and prosecute the attacker, his wife, and son for terrorist acts. Bleicher called the initial handling a "shocking failure," emphasizing the need to stop enabling Islamic terrorism and to send a clear message that Jewish lives are not expendable.
