Guest Injured by Unmarked Glass Barrier in Dead Sea Hotel Lobby Faces 15,000 Shekel Damage Claim

A legal dispute has arisen after a guest at a Dead Sea hotel collided with an unmarked transparent glass barrier in the lobby, resulting in facial injuries and a demand for compensation. The incident occurred on December 13, 2025, when a resident of Rishon LeZion, identified as Sh., was staying at the hotel with family and friends. According to Sh., he was asked by his daughter to retrieve something from their car and, while walking through what appeared to be an open passage, he failed to notice a completely transparent glass barrier without any markings. The collision caused a deep cut on his chin and other injuries, requiring medical treatment including stitches and pain medication.

Sh.'s lawyer, Lital Biber-Haikin, stated that the hotel’s shift manager witnessed the incident on security cameras and apologized to Sh. Despite this, the hotel management rejected responsibility, accusing Sh. of reckless behavior and demanding 15,000 shekels to cover damages. The hotel claims the cost to repair the broken glass partition was 6,372 shekels, with additional indirect damages including staff downtime and lobby closure. The hotel gave Sh. 14 days to pay or face legal action with added fees.

Biber-Haikin refutes the hotel’s claims, emphasizing the basic safety obligation to mark glass obstacles in guest areas and dismissing the hotel’s argument that guests must simply be more cautious. She describes the hotel’s demand as an inversion of responsibility, noting that Sh. was seriously injured and now faces an ultimatum to pay or defend himself in court. The lawyer asserts that evidence, including video footage held by the hotel, supports Sh.’s version of events and anticipates the matter will be resolved judicially with compensation for both temporary and permanent injuries, as well as legal costs.