The Har Hevron Regional Council reported a serious incident that occurred on Saturday, in which anarchists once again staged a provocation, with one of the activists arrested after reportedly sexually assaulting one of the children.
During Shabbat, three children aged 10-12 were making their way from the community of Carmel to the Barkai neighborhood. When they were only about 50 meters from the neighborhood, Palestinian Arabs and anarchists who were at the scene began preventing them from passing. At one point, the incident crossed a criminal red line when one of the anarchists sexually harassed one of the children.
Residents of the Barkai neighborhood who witnessed what was happening and noticed the children's distress intervened immediately and detained the suspect at the scene until security forces and police arrived.
Police officers arrested the suspect, who is currently in custody. At the same time, the child's father filed an official complaint at the police station.
Har Hevron Regional Council head Eliram Azulay stated: "For a long time, we have been experiencing provocations by anti-Israel activists who live near the Barkai neighborhood and are attempting in every possible way to disrupt the residents' daily lives."
"This time, a dangerous and criminal red line was crossed, and it cannot be met with silence. Harming children is a serious crime, and we expect the Israel Police and the judicial system to prosecute the attacker to the fullest extent of the law, without compromise.
"We thank the residents for their vigilance and swift response, which prevented more serious harm."