The release on bail of an Arab youth who allegedly confessed to being an accomplice to the murder of a Jewish American tourist in Jerusalem has many up in arms.
One Arab youth, aged 15, from northern Jerusalem, remains in prison, after having confessed to the killing of Lance Wolfe, a 60-year-old American. The killer's apparent accomplice, a 14-year-old Arab, reportedly brought him the large board that was used to ram Wolfe's head, leading to his death. Media reports conflict as to whether the 14-year-old confessed or not, but he was released to house arrest on his father's recognizance and has posted 20,000 shekels in bail.
"The double standard in dealing with Jews and Arabs cries out to the heavens," say sources in Honenu, a legal rights organization that defends Jews arrested or imprisoned for "crimes" such as shooting Arab attackers in the legs in self-defense or protesting in favor of the Land of Israel.
In the past two weeks, Arabs accused of attacking Jews were released within hours, while one of the Jews was himself accused of starting the violence. In one case, last Friday morning, an Arab bumped into a Jewish youth. When the latter demanded an explanation, the Arab pulled out brass knuckles, beat the Jewish youth, and ran off towards Damascus Gate. A friend of the victim happened by, asked what happened, and the two of them set off for Damascus Gate to find the attacker. They identified him and told police, who arrested the Arab. However, at the police station, two policemen accused the Jew of attacking the Arab. They released the Arab, and told the Jew he must return on Sunday for further questioning. The Jewish youth and his friend went from there to the Terem Emergency Medical Aid center, where he was diagnosed with a broken front tooth, a swollen arm and eye area, and bruises all over his body.
Honenu attorney Adi Kedar has submitted an urgent request to the police, asking why the Arab attacker was released, under what conditions, and why the Jew was questioned as a suspect after he was clearly beaten up.
A week earlier, at the gravesite of Samuel the Prophet north of Jerusalem, an Arab gang attacked several Jews after the wallet of one of the Jews was stolen. One Jew required ten stitches under his eye; some of the Arabs were arrested, and were released a few hours later. Kedar submitted an urgent query to the police regarding this case as well.
"Arabs murder Jews so very easily," said Honenu founder and head Shmuel (Zangy) Medad to Israel National News, "and then, equally easily, they are released from prison. And even those who are convicted and are sent to jail, will certainly be released as a gesture for some Muslim holiday, and will certainly not serve their full sentence."
"Those who do not protect Jews who wish to walk in the streets of the Holy City, but make sure to ensure Arab rights to live anywhere in Jerusalem, harassing Jewish girls in Pisgat Ze'ev, should not be surprised at the coarseness of heart that they display in releasing murderers and keeping Jews in jail."