Jerusalemite indicted for racist attack on Arab family picnicking by Jordan River

State prosecutors on Monday indicted a 20-year-old in the Nazareth District Court for aggravated assault, after he allegedly attacked an Arab Israeli family picnicking on the Jordan River earlier this month.

On May 3, Jerusalem resident Akiva Cohen approached and began to harass the family, who had come from the nearby town of Tuba-Zangariyye for a family outing.

Cohen heaped racist expressions on the family members, telling them to “go back to Syria” and threatening to spray them with bullets if they did not leave the area, according to the indictment.

The frightened family soon moved away from Cohen, but were eventually followed by the assailant, this time armed with an M16 assault rifle and accompanied by his friend who carried a pistol.

Cohen again ordered them to leave their new location.

After a brief verbal exchange, Cohen was caught on video attacking one of the men in the family, appearing to headbutt him.

"תחזרו לסוריה": כתב אישום הוגש נגד עקיבא כהן מירושלים, בגין חבלה חמורה בנסיבות מחמירות ממניע גזעני. כהן תקף משפחה מטובא זנגריה אשר בילתה בנהר הירדן | הידיעה המלאה >>> https://t.co/sdPwCtDSS5@CBeyar pic.twitter.com/VbHqP0AyjD

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) May 19, 2025

The victim was knocked unconscious to the ground with a broken nose and taken to Safed’s Ziv Medical Center.

The defendant fled from Kiryat Shmona police who arrived at the scene, but was soon arrested.

His custody was extended until the end of legal proceedings against him.

Cohen was indicted on charges of aggravated assault with a racist motive, racially motivated threats, weapons offenses, and obstructing a police officer from performing his duties.

It is unclear whether legal action has been taken against Cohen’s acquaintance.