Two terrorists convicted of involvement in the lynching of three Jews during Operation Guardian of the Walls have been ordered to pay more than NIS 220,000 in total compensation to the three victims.

The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court ruled that each of the three plaintiffs, who were represented by attorney Chaim Bleicher of the Honenu organization, will receive NIS 60,000 in compensation. In addition, the defendants were ordered to pay NIS 36,000 in legal fees and court costs.

The lynching took place on Jerusalem Day in 2021, when the three plaintiffs were driving toward the Kosel and encountered a mob of Arab rioters on the road leading to the Kosel from the direction of Sha’ar Shechem, near the turnoff to Sha’ar HaArayos.

The Arabs hurled concrete blocks and rocks at their car, sprayed pepper spray, and violently attacked the occupants. The attack caused the driver to lose control of his car, which almost turned over before ramming into at least one of the Arabs.

The Arabs then ran to the car and attempted to carry out a lynch of the driver. A nearby police officer ran to the scene to protect the driver and his two passengers while firing his gun in the air to control the Arab mob. In a frightening glimpse of how little fear the Arabs have even of an armed police officer, the Arabs continued to heckle the driver and policeman even after the near lynch.

 

The three Jews were injured in the attack, including cuts and bruises, and suffered burning in their eyes due to the Arabs spraying pepper spray and tear gas at them from close-range.

Judge Eliad Winshal ruled that the incident was a particularly severe case of a mass assault motivated by nationalism. The ruling emphasized that the plaintiffs were attacked because of their religious Jewish appearance and that the fear and terror they experienced during the lynching constituted a significant part of the harm they suffered.

Attorney Bleicher said: “We welcome the ruling, which imposes substantial compensation on the terrorists who participated in a severe terrorist lynching as part of the Guardian of the Walls war.

“We will continue working to ensure that every terrorist or terrorist rioter pays a heavy price for his actions, thereby increasing deterrence and working to eradicate terrorism.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)