Jerusalem soccer fans suspected of attack on Arabs

Two fans of the Beitar Jerusalem soccer team were arrested on Monday on suspicion of attacking Arab employees at a McDonald’s restaurant in the capital.

The incident occurred during the start of a march by hundreds of Beitar fans to mark the start of the new season. The popular team held its first training session on Monday.

According to Ynet News, dozens of fans blocked the entrance to the restaurant while chanting Beitar songs, and when Arab employees of the restaurant asked them to leave, they were attacked. In addition to the two arrested for assault, five others were detained for rioting, police said.

“Several of the fans were sitting outside, when two Arab employees [of the McDonald’s branch] stepped outside and told them they can’t sit there. People started pushing each other, but the whole thing was quickly resolved. There may have been some racist slurs as part of a song, but not pointed at anyone in particular,” a witness said.

The entire incident was captured on security cameras set up outside the restaurant.

Police said they were investigating whether the employees were attacked because they were Arabs, which would classify the assault as nationalistically motivated and therefore make the suspects liable to a stiffer penalty. A remand hearing was scheduled for Tuesday at the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court.

Beitar fans have a long history of anti-Arab sentiment, and, until earlier this year, the team was the only Israeli soccer group to have never signed an Arab or Muslim player.

In February 2012, after a victory, hundreds of Beitar fans rioted in Jerusalem’s Malha Mall and assaulted several Arab workers and patrons.