Participants in Jerusalem lynching attempt to pay 180,000 shekels to victims
The Magistrate's Court ruled that two of the participants in the attack on three Jews who were on their way to the Western Wall in 2021, in the midst of the "Guardian of the Walls" riots, will pay 60,000 shekels to each victim. The verdict stated regarding the victims: "The fear and terror they experienced during the event are a central part of the pain and suffering."
The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court ruled last week that two of the participants in a lynching attempt near the Western Wall in May 2021 will pay 60,000 shekels to each of the three victims. The verdict stated that "the nationalist aspect that formed the basis of the attack, which was directed at the plaintiffs solely because of their Jewish-religious appearance, must be taken into account. The circumstances of the event and its duration establish a real fear inherent in a particularly violent death."
The event took place on the morning of May 10, 2021, amidst widespread riots in Israel during Operation "Guardian of the Walls." On that day, Efraim Shahor, Barak Baruch, and Roi Zaga were attacked by a mob while driving toward the Western Wall. Had it not been for the rapid intervention of the police, the incident could have ended in a lynching.
According to the court records, when the three arrived near the Rockefeller junction, their vehicle got stuck in traffic, and a mob began attacking them on nationalist grounds, throwing stones at the car. One of the stones shattered the rear window. Shahor, who was driving, tried to escape but was blocked. "Throughout the street, we were pelted with stones," Shahor recounted. He noted that when they reached the Damascus Gate area, they had no way to escape. The vehicle was disabled, and the attackers opened the doors and continued to beat them. Their lives were saved by a police officer, Chief Inspector Amir Ben Kiki, who dispersed the mob by firing into the air.
The verdict detailed the actions of the defendants. One of them, a minor at the time, attempted to throw a stone into the car and kicked the driver with force. Later, he threw a large stone, approximately 15 cm in diameter, into the back seat from a distance of less than a meter. The second defendant chased the car and also threw stones at it. Both were convicted in criminal proceedings of terrorist acts and causing harm on racist grounds.
In the civil lawsuit, Judge Eliad Vinshal rejected the defense's arguments regarding the division of responsibility and the claim that the minor's role was "insignificant." The judge emphasized that the severity of the acts and the degree of involvement did not justify reducing the compensation. Beyond physical injuries—including scalp wounds, cuts, and pepper spray burns—the court took into account the psychological trauma.
"The fear and terror that the plaintiffs experienced during the attack and immediately after are a central part of the pain and suffering component," Judge Vinshal concluded, setting the compensation at 60,000 shekels for each of the three victims. The defendants were also ordered to pay legal fees and court expenses.
Attorney Haim Bleicher from the Honenu organization, who represented the plaintiffs, stated: "We welcome the verdict, which imposes real compensation on the terrorists. We will continue to act so that every terrorist or rioter pays a heavy price for his actions, thereby adding deterrence and the eradication of terror."
