The verdict in the trial of Shimshon Cytryn, accused of attempted murder for involvement in a rock fight with Gaza Arabs just before the Disengagement, was to be handed down today (Wednesday). It was postponed, however, after Cytryn, on the way to the courthouse, suffered a minor car accident with an Arab driver.
Supporters of Shimshon, who was jailed two weeks after this 18th birthday and has been under house arrest in Shaalvim most of the time since then, had said this was likely to be the critical court session. Several previous hearings were cancelled over the past few months. Today's session at the Be'er Sheva District Court, before a forum of three judges, has now been re-scheduled for this coming Sunday, June 3.
Arab Mob Attack Described as "Jewish Lynching"
The incident in question occurred on June 29, 2005, just several weeks before the withdrawal/expulsion from Gaza. Amidst great tensions between pro-Land of Israel Jews, on the one hand, and Arabs, police and soldiers on the other, a rock fight developed between Jews and Arabs near the area of what had been the Palm Beach Hotel. It was soon reported that an Arab had been "mortally wounded," and the situation was widely described by media, political and military sources as a Jewish "lynching" of Arabs.
Amidst this charged atmosphere, a manhunt was launched for two Israeli youths filmed throwing rocks from close range at the Arab. When Shimshon was finally arrested a few days later, it was widely assumed that he would receive up to 20 years in prison for his role.
However, as Arutz-7 reported at the time, most of reports did not mention that the injured Arab had been throwing rocks at Israelis for 15 minutes beforehand - and that he was up and about even while media reports continued to describe him as "mortally wounded."
In addition, the purported victim, Hilal Ziad Al-Majaydeh, told Voice of Israel Radio the next day that he had not been attacked by a civilian, but rather by an IDF soldier and was knocked unconscious.
Eyewitness Account
Eyewitnesses told a different story than that which appeared on the media. One person on the scene, known as A.D., told Arutz-7 shortly afterwards:
"What actually happened was that one Jew threw rocks, and then about 30 Arabs came out and started pounding everything in sight with rocks. It was a terrible disgrace for the IDF - I came home all in shock at what I had seen. The soldiers were simply unable to protect themselves from this onslaught, even though the Arabs were pounding the jeeps and everything. The only time the soldiers did something real was when the Jews started throwing rocks back!"
Regarding the alleged "lynching," A.D. said the television footage of an Arab lying on the ground and then two Jewish boys running towards him and throwing rocks at him was a distortion of what actually happened. "That's not the story!" he said. "I saw this same Arab get hit in the head with a rock - and yet he continued to throw rocks, like a tiger, for the next 15 minutes! And then I saw some reporters go over to him and tell him to lie down and act as if he was unconscious. Later on, he was taken out walking on his own, holding on to a soldier..."
District Court Ignores Testing Service Reports
The injustice continued after Cytryn's arrest and during his incarceration. After two months, he requested to be released to house arrest, bringing no fewer than three Testing Service reports attesting that he did not present a public danger. Despite this, District Court Judge Binyamin Azulai turned him down four times. Finally, in November 2005, 4.5 months after Shimshon's arrest, Supreme Court Justice Edmond Levy released him to the care of a rabbi in Shaalvim, with sharp criticism of the lower court judge for not doing it sooner.
Shimshon Cytryn, a yeshiva student known for his dedication to his studies and who has recently become engaged to be married, was represented at first by the Honenu Civil Rights organization, and later by Atty. Yarom HaLevi of Tel Aviv. For more information on the case and how to help defray the family's legal expenses, send email to amcytryn@netvision.net.il.
Supporters of Shimshon, who was jailed two weeks after this 18th birthday and has been under house arrest in Shaalvim most of the time since then, had said this was likely to be the critical court session. Several previous hearings were cancelled over the past few months. Today's session at the Be'er Sheva District Court, before a forum of three judges, has now been re-scheduled for this coming Sunday, June 3.
Arab Mob Attack Described as "Jewish Lynching"
The incident in question occurred on June 29, 2005, just several weeks before the withdrawal/expulsion from Gaza. Amidst great tensions between pro-Land of Israel Jews, on the one hand, and Arabs, police and soldiers on the other, a rock fight developed between Jews and Arabs near the area of what had been the Palm Beach Hotel. It was soon reported that an Arab had been "mortally wounded," and the situation was widely described by media, political and military sources as a Jewish "lynching" of Arabs.
Amidst this charged atmosphere, a manhunt was launched for two Israeli youths filmed throwing rocks from close range at the Arab. When Shimshon was finally arrested a few days later, it was widely assumed that he would receive up to 20 years in prison for his role.
However, as Arutz-7 reported at the time, most of reports did not mention that the injured Arab had been throwing rocks at Israelis for 15 minutes beforehand - and that he was up and about even while media reports continued to describe him as "mortally wounded."
In addition, the purported victim, Hilal Ziad Al-Majaydeh, told Voice of Israel Radio the next day that he had not been attacked by a civilian, but rather by an IDF soldier and was knocked unconscious.
Eyewitness Account
Eyewitnesses told a different story than that which appeared on the media. One person on the scene, known as A.D., told Arutz-7 shortly afterwards:
"What actually happened was that one Jew threw rocks, and then about 30 Arabs came out and started pounding everything in sight with rocks. It was a terrible disgrace for the IDF - I came home all in shock at what I had seen. The soldiers were simply unable to protect themselves from this onslaught, even though the Arabs were pounding the jeeps and everything. The only time the soldiers did something real was when the Jews started throwing rocks back!"
Regarding the alleged "lynching," A.D. said the television footage of an Arab lying on the ground and then two Jewish boys running towards him and throwing rocks at him was a distortion of what actually happened. "That's not the story!" he said. "I saw this same Arab get hit in the head with a rock - and yet he continued to throw rocks, like a tiger, for the next 15 minutes! And then I saw some reporters go over to him and tell him to lie down and act as if he was unconscious. Later on, he was taken out walking on his own, holding on to a soldier..."
District Court Ignores Testing Service Reports
The injustice continued after Cytryn's arrest and during his incarceration. After two months, he requested to be released to house arrest, bringing no fewer than three Testing Service reports attesting that he did not present a public danger. Despite this, District Court Judge Binyamin Azulai turned him down four times. Finally, in November 2005, 4.5 months after Shimshon's arrest, Supreme Court Justice Edmond Levy released him to the care of a rabbi in Shaalvim, with sharp criticism of the lower court judge for not doing it sooner.
Shimshon Cytryn, a yeshiva student known for his dedication to his studies and who has recently become engaged to be married, was represented at first by the Honenu Civil Rights organization, and later by Atty. Yarom HaLevi of Tel Aviv. For more information on the case and how to help defray the family's legal expenses, send email to amcytryn@netvision.net.il