Two Palestinians hospitalized after being severely beaten by Jewish mob in Jerusalem

Investigators believe the attack was racially motivated and have launched a probe. No arrests have been made thus far.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD, JPOST.COM STAFF
Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School in Ein Kerem 370 (photo credit: Wikicommons)
Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School in Ein Kerem 370
(photo credit: Wikicommons)
Two young Arabs were hospitalized Friday evening after being severely beaten in the Neveh Ya’acov neighborhood of Jerusalem, allegedly by a mob of Jewish youths.
According to police, the victims, Amir Shawiki and Ahmed Kasuani, both 20 and residents of east Jerusalem’s Beit Hanina neighborhood, claimed to have been approached by two suspects asking for a cigarette, and were subsequently attacked by a dozen others.
Although an ambulance arrived at the scene, police said both men were taken to Hadassah University Medical Center, in Jerusalem’s Ein Kerem, by family in a private car.
“They were taken to the hospital, where police took their testimony, and they then asked to be transferred to Al-Makassed Hospital in east Jerusalem,” said Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.
“Police have opened an investigation and are searching for suspects who could have been behind the incident.”
Following an interview with both victims on Sunday, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel released a statement, stating that they were beaten until losing consciousness by a group wielding baseball bats and metal pipes.
Rosenfeld said both men have since been released from the hospital, and added that no arrests have been made.
The attack occurred following Thursday night’s massive Palestinian “Day of Rage” protest, which engulfed parts of the capital and resulted in 40 arrests, 200 Arabs wounded and 29 Border Police officers sustaining light wounds.