Hundreds attend funeral of Jerusalem rock attack victim
Alexander Levlovitz, 64, lost control of his car after it was pelted with stones late Sunday night
Hundreds of people attended the funeral Wednesday for Alexander Levlovitz, 64, who was killed late Sunday night in a rock-throwing attack in Jerusalem.
Levlovitz lost control of his car when it came under attack by stone-throwing assailants, ramming into a pole. Police were investigating whether Levlovitz suffered cardiac arrest when his car crashed.
“Abba [father], who will we go on without you, without hearing your laugh?” Levlovitz’s son Nir said at the funeral. “Abba, my love, rest in peace in the land, the country, and the city you so loved, the city where you were born, raised, and where you were murdered.”
Also speaking at the funeral was Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat, who maintained the government must “harshen the penalties and create deterrence” against stone-throwers.
“A teenager who decides to throw a rock bears the responsibility for his actions,” Barkat said. “He must know that he is capable of harm, and that after he is caught he will sit in prison for a long time.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed his commitment earlier Wednesday to fighting terrorism, declaring “war” on those across the country who throw stones and Molotov cocktails amid rising tensions in Jerusalem. “We’re changing the policy. The current situation is unacceptable to us,” Netanyahu said.
Two other people traveling in the car were lightly injured in the rock attack in the East Talpiot neighborhood of southeast Jerusalem. The three were returning from an event celebrating the Jewish New Year.
Unknown assailants believed to be Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem reportedly attacked the car with stones. The assailants, allegedly from the nearby Palestinian village of Sur Bacher, also attacked other cars on East Talpiot’s Asher Winer street, Channel 2 reported.
The Times of Israel Community.