Israel: Nine teens charged in hate crime against Palestinian teen
International peace activists hold the Palestinian flag during the commemoration of Land Day in Qalandia, which lies between Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah on March 30, 2012.
Nine Israeli teenagers have been charged in a brutal hate crime attack against a Palestinian teen in Jerusalem, Reuters reported. Israeli prosecutors say that the violence began when an Israeli girl began shouting anti-Arab taunts on August 16. More teens began chanting "Death to Arabs," and one attacker even shouted, "Be a man and come and beat the Arabs," according to Reuters.
Jamal Juliana, a 17-year-old Palestinian, was punched and kicked and then left to die in the road. According to Reuters, his heart stopped after the attack but paramedics brought him back to life.
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The teens, seven of whom are minors, will have a trial at the Jerusalem District Court, the AFP reported. They face charges of incitement to racism, incitement to violence, and various assault charges.
The victim meanwhile is recovering in the hospital and is expected to be discharged Thursday, Ynet reported. Israeli parliament member Reuven Rivlin came to the hospital last week to apologize to Jamal. He also told the teen that the attack was not an isolated incident, but part of a worrying trend. "We are not just sorry, we are also angry," Rivlin told Ynet.
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