MK attacked in south Tel Aviv

MK Elazar Stern (Hatnua) was attacked by an Eritrean immigrant in Tel Aviv Sunday evening, when touring the city’s southern neighborhoods to learn about social issues plaguing the area.

While walking in the street accompanied by local residents, Stern was approached by a shirtless man wearing a cross who, according to Channel 2, waived the cross and shouted at the legislator. After being ignored, the man approached Stern, hit him, and knocked his kipa off his head. Stern was not injured and resumed the tour.

The Eritrean was taken into custody by the police.

Many African immigrants who crossed Israel’s border with Egypt illegally in recent years have congregated in the city’s southern neighborhoods, causing residents to complain about an increase in violence and a fear of wandering the streets.

“Things happen here that Israel wouldn’t accept if they took place anywhere else in the world,” Stern said. “If the immigrants were more spread out in cities around the country, things would look different.”