"They Are Arabs, They Must Die"

Soldiers Charged With Assault Yelled 'Arabs Must Die'

Indictments filed against four soldiers serving as security guards at naval facility accused of shocking racially-motivated assault against group of Druze youths at Atlit beach, one victim a Border Police officer

By Hanan Greenberg
02:24 , 08.01.08
Courtesy Of Y Net

Two soldiers serving as security guards at a facility used by the Navy's elite commando unit were indicted on Thursday on charges of racially-motivated aggravated assault. The two are accused of attacking a group of Israeli Druze youths at an Atlit beachfront two weeks ago.

According to the indictment, one of the soldiers called out: "They are Arabs, they must die" during the attack. Two other soldiers from their unit, who also took part in the attack, were indicted on charges of aggravated assault.

The altercation occurred on July 19th. According to the indictment filed by the Military Prosecution, two of the soldiers left their base while drunk, with the intent of seeking out Arab visitors at the beachfront neighboring the base. Several Israelis of Druze descent were at the beach at the time, one of them a Border Guard officer.

The soldiers approached one of the civilians and asked if he and his friends were Arabs. Upon receiving a negative answer, the soldiers suddenly yelled out "There are Arabs here." They then attacked the Border Guard officer, who tried to flee towards the base. At this point two of the soldiers' friends stepped out and also began beating the officer, using sticks and, at one point, the butt of their M16 assault rifles.

Even after the incident was over, the defendants said "all Arabs should be killed."

As a result of the grievous assault, the Border Guard officer required medical attention and a week's time to recuperate.

The indictment filed to the Haifa military court also includes charges of the illegal use of a weapon, as two of the defendants used their personal rifles to beat the victim.

One of the defendants is also accused of hurling rocks towards one of the Druze women who was at the beach along with her daughter while screaming "Arabs, Arabs."

The Military Prosecution has requested to extend the arrest of all four defendants until the end of all legal proceedings against them.