Ashkelon: US tourist stoned after asking for quiet
Teens stone US tourist a
The Jerusalem Post - logo(photo credit: JPOST STAFF)By BEN HARTMANPolice detained several local teens last week on suspicion they brutally attacked an American Jewish tourist in Ashkelon, hitting her in the head with a paving stone and leaving a gash more than five centimeters long.
The victim, a 28-year-old mother of three, told Channel 2 her family had considered immigrating to Israel, a plan they have now canceled.
Amber and Segiv Medmoni were toward the end of their three-week visit to Israel and were staying at Segiv's parents' home in Ashkelon. Late into the night, a group of youngsters riding go-karts up and down the residential street were keeping the couple awake.
Segiv, 33, an Israeli citizen, reportedly went with his father to the house next door, where one or more of the youngsters live, and asked if they could quiet down.
Segiv said the youngsters threatened to kill them and burn down their house if they did not leave immediately. About 40 minutes later, around 20 youths gathered outside his parents' home and began screaming insults at the family.
The family called the police and shortly thereafter, a paving stone reportedly struck Amber in the head. Paramedics took her to the hospital, where she was given stitches to close the gash.
Police arrested a number of suspects and have asked the Medmonis to delay their return to the United States to testify against the alleged assailants.
An Ashkelon police source told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday that police held the suspects for 24 hours on Wednesday, but released them due to lack of evidence.
The police source added that it was a problematic case because there was no way to prove from where the stone came. She said that the couple did not see it thrown and there was almost no way to connect the paving stone to the youths.
The only thing investigators were able to confirm so far was that the couple had an argument with the youths, who in turn threatened them, the source said.
This was not the first time that the Medmoni family had had issues with the neighbors, she added.
Segiv told Channel 2 this week that he's "never felt like this. I am a strong man, I served in an IDF combat unit and was a combat medic in Lebanon. But to come here and see the people you love hurt is very difficult."RECOMMENDED STORIESHow is Iran still launching missiles at Israel despite Israeli airstrikes?JUNE 16, 2025IDF pummels Tehran with heavy fire, 50 Israeli fighter jets take part in attacksJUNE 15, 2025A volcano ready to blow: Middle East erupts with Israeli strikes on IranJUNE 15, 2025Starlink operating in Iran, Elon Musk says, as Islamic regime shuts internet downJUNE 14, 2025Hot OpinionNow is the time for a unity government to provide clarity within the chaosByJPOST EDITORIALAs Iran vows our destruction, Israel unitesByYAIR LAPIDFive takeaways from the bomb shelter: Reflections on the Israel-Iran WarByDAVID BRINNIsrael strikes Iran: Strategic success or start of an uncertain future?BySUSAN HATTIS ROLEF