An Israel Railways employee was beaten Thursday by a group of Arab youths. 

Ronen, a rail inspector for the national carrier, reported that a group of young Arabs confronted him at his guard post at a railway crossing near Atlit, demanded his weapon, and savagely beat him when they discovered he was unarmed.

Ronen can barely speak, as the attackers fractured bones in his face and body. Ronen's parents, speaking to police on behalf of their son, conveyed Ronen's account of the attack, as well as their horror at the result: "I arrived at the post and saw that it was full of blood," Ronen's father said. "I was certain my son had been murdered."  

The attack is believed to be "nationalistically" motivated, which would define it as an act of terrorism.