US condemns Jewish teens’ brutal attack on Arab youth in Jerusalem

State Dept. says ‘discriminatory acts of violence undermine and discredit efforts toward peace and security between Israelis and Palestinians’

Youth suspected of involvement in the brutal beating of an Arab teenager in downtown Jerusalem being escorted by police through the corridors of the Jerusalem Magistrates Court (photo credit: Yoav Dudkevitch/Flash90)
Youth suspected of involvement in the brutal beating of an Arab teenager in downtown Jerusalem being escorted by police through the corridors of the Jerusalem Magistrates Court (photo credit: Yoav Dudkevitch/Flash90)

The US State Department on Wednesday condemned last Thursday’s downtown Jerusalem beating of an Arab youth by a group of Jewish teenagers.

“We condemn in the strongest possible terms the senseless act of hate and violence committed against a Palestinian youth in Jerusalem on August 17,” the department said in a statement. “We wish victim Jamal Julani a speedy recovery. Discriminatory acts of violence undermine and discredit efforts toward peace and security between Israelis and Palestinians.”

The statement welcomed “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s unequivocal condemnation of racism and violence and his call for a full police investigation.”

“The perpetrators of this hateful crime must be held to account,” it added.

The incident occurred last Thursday night, when a group of Arabs were assaulted by around 15 Jewish teenagers in the heart of Jerusalem while dozens of bystanders looked on. The main victim, 17-year-old Julani of East Jerusalem, nearly died from his injuries and was hospitalized in critical condition.

Police said the attack was an unprovoked, “extremely severe crime” that had been instigated only because the victims were Arabs. Eight minors suspected of being involved in the beating have been arrested.

The attack drew widespread condemnation from Israel’s leaders, including Netanyahu, President Shimon Peres, Vice Prime Moshe Ya’alon and Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat.

Netanyahu said that “In the State of Israel we aren’t willing to tolerate racism and we aren’t willing to tolerate the combination of racism and violence.”

“This is something that we cannot accept — neither as Jews nor as Israelis,” he added. “This is not our way; this is opposed to our ways; and we condemn it in word and deed. We will quickly bring to justice those responsible for this reprehensible incident.”

 

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