Israeli Teen from Zichron Yaakov Charged with Violent Assault on Two Brothers

On the night of July 18, 18-year-old Yair Ovadia from Zichron Yaakov was charged with violently assaulting two brothers in the town center. According to the indictment filed by the Haifa District Police Prosecution Unit at the Hadera Magistrate’s Court, Ovadia and a minor companion were walking with a Belgian Shepherd dog when they began mocking the brothers, calling them derogatory names related to their sexual orientation. When one brother asked them to stop, Ovadia responded with insults, pushed him, and punched him in the face and ribs. The dog barked and jumped at the victim while Ovadia and the minor jointly attacked him with punches. When the second brother intervened, Ovadia also punched him in the nose. The minor then removed the dog’s leash and urged it to attack. Both brothers sustained injuries and were treated at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center.

The police arrested Ovadia and the minor the same evening; the minor was released, but Ovadia remains in custody. Ovadia denies the allegations, claiming he did not meet the brothers at the scene and only encountered them later at the police station. Despite no prior convictions, Ovadia faces an additional indictment for threats and assault. Prosecutor Adv. Leah Lavenda described Ovadia as highly dangerous, emphasizing the spontaneous nature of the attack motivated by sexual orientation bias. Defense attorney Anat Huli requested his release, but Judge Nurit Herzman Avi-Yitzhak extended Ovadia’s detention pending further hearings. Ovadia recently completed high school and was due to enlist in the IDF in August.