Eilat Woman Sentenced to 32 Months in Prison Over 100 Shekel Dispute
An Eilat court sentenced a woman to 32 months in prison after a dispute over 100 shekels escalated into a violent scissor attack at a local shopping center.
A dispute over 100 shekels at a shopping center in Eilat escalated into a violent attack, resulting in a 32-month prison sentence for the assailant. The incident occurred a little over a year ago when 40-year-old Ruth Levy approached another woman in a commercial area in Eilat and asked her for 100 shekels. After the woman refused her request, a verbal argument quickly erupted into a physical brawl. During the altercation, the two women traded insults, scratched each other, and pulled hair.
At a certain point, Levy pulled a pair of sharp scissors from her bag, which she had brought from home. She stabbed the victim multiple times, injuring her before fleeing the scene. Following a police complaint, Levy was arrested and subsequently convicted at the Eilat Magistrate's Court of causing injury with a sharp object and participating in a public brawl.
During the trial, defense attorney Nimrod Aviram argued that his client struggles with mental health issues and emotional regulation difficulties. He maintained that the confrontation was mutual and unplanned, noting that Levy herself was also injured during the scuffle.
Severity of the Offense and Sentencing
In delivering the verdict, Judge Shay Berger of the Eilat Magistrate's Court emphasized the severity of Levy's actions, stating that they violated the victim's physical integrity, dignity, and personal safety, as well as public security. The judge noted that society must combat violent thuggery where individuals fall victim to physical assaults over trivial matters.
Judge Berger sentenced Levy to 20 months in prison and activated two suspended sentences from previous convictions, bringing her total prison term to 32 months, or two years and eight months. Additionally, she received a 12-month suspended sentence, a 1,500 shekel fine, and was ordered to pay 5,000 shekels in compensation to the victim.
Following the verdict, Levy reacted angrily in the courtroom, claiming she was the one who had been attacked and declaring that she would not pay the fine or compensation. The judge noted her remarks in the sentencing protocol but saw no reason to alter the penalties.
