Jerusalem soccer fan charged with racist assault on Arab

McDonald’s employees were attacked by Beitar supporters during march in honor of new season

By Gavriel Fiske

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10 July 2013, 2:55 pm

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Gavriel Fiske is a reporter at The Times of Israel

A fan of the Beitar Jerusalem soccer team was charged with assault in the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court Wednesday. Avi Ovadia Elkayam, 24, was accused by the Jerusalem district attorney of attacking Arab workers at a McDonald’s restaurant.

If it is proven that Elkayam attacked the workers because they were Arabs, as the charges allege, the attack would carry a stiffer sentence.

The charges stem from an incident last week after which several Beitar fans were arrested on suspicion that they had attacked employees at a McDonald’s restaurant in Jerusalem’s Beit Hakerem neighborhood.

The assault occurred during a march by hundreds of Beitar fans to mark the start of the new season. The popular team, which is identified with the Israeli right, had just held its first training session.

Dozens of fans blocked the entrance to the franchise while chanting Beitar songs, and when Arab employees of the restaurant asked them to leave, they were attacked after the fans reportedly asked them if they were Arabs. 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 incident was captured on security cameras set up inside the restaurant:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10T8Q4pjqKk

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.

In addition to the assault charges, Elkayam is accused of taking part in vandalizing a car and attacking a driver with clubs after a 2011 match between Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Tel Aviv.