Rehovot Resident Convicted of Assaulting Elderly Neighbors in Long Dispute
A Rehovot resident was convicted of assaulting and threatening his elderly neighbors following a years-long dispute over building committee fees, water valves, and security cameras.
A bitter dispute over building committee fees and property management in Rehovot escalated over several years into severe neighborly conflict, ultimately resulting in criminal convictions. The feud, which featured mutual complaints, disputes over security cameras, and tampered water valves, culminated in threats and physical violence.
A local resident was convicted of all violence-related charges brought against him. The court ruled that the testimony of an elderly couple living next door was credible, consistent, and corroborated by security camera footage and additional evidence, whereas the defendant's version was riddled with contradictions.
Refusal to Pay Committee Fees
At the heart of the case was a prolonged struggle over the management of the building committee. The elderly complainants, who have lived on the fourth floor for over 30 years, served as committee members for years, while the defendant lived on the sixth floor. The female complainant testified that relations were normal until about three or four years prior to the incidents, when the defendant allegedly refused to pay committee fees for two years.
According to her, he then began tampering with the security cameras and entrance locks out of spite. She stated that numerous complaints were filed with the police, which were eventually closed, and that she and her husband ultimately resigned from managing the committee out of fear that the constant tension would damage their health.
The defendant presented a starkly contrasting narrative, claiming that his desire to join the building committee actually ignited the conflict. He asserted that his relations with the complainants and other neighbors had been good for years, but the moment he expressed a wish to be involved in management, the complainants turned on him and began filing frivolous complaints.
Threats and Violence
According to the first charge, the defendant noticed the female complainant attempting to enter the building. He allegedly slammed the front door five times to prevent her entry, threatening her: > "I will kill you, I will throw you to Gaza, you won't come home today... this is your last day."
After she managed to enter and reach the elevator, he allegedly opened the elevator door, pushed her against the wall, and repeatedly slammed the door, causing injury to her arm.
Security cameras served as central evidence in the trial. The footage showed the defendant holding the front door, forcefully opening and closing it to block the complainant. Later, he was seen rushing toward the elevator, slamming the iron door several times, and pushing the complainant inside. Medical records and photographs of the arm injury were also presented.
Another flashpoint was the water supply. According to the indictment, the defendant turned off the water valve to the couple's apartment. The complainant testified that when she tried to clarify his actions, he chased her with a bottle in hand, threatening to cut her throat. Later that day, another confrontation occurred during which the defendant allegedly picked up stones and tried to attack the male complainant before a bystander intervened.
The defendant denied the allegations, claiming he merely sought to address a severe water leak that was causing structural damage. Judge Keren Wechsler rejected his defense, noting that the prosecution proved his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt while his testimony proved evasive and contradictory. He was convicted of assaulting an elderly person causing actual bodily harm, threats, assault, and attempted assault.
