Three Israeli Arab youths were indicted on Monday on charges of severely assaulting and attempting to execute a Palestinian Arab on suspicion their victim had stolen copies of the Koran from a local mosque.
Prosecutors told the Haifa Magistrates Court that the three assailants kidnapped their victim, who was living and working in northern Israel illegally, and drove him to a nearby olive grove. There the Palestinian, 24, was stripped, tied to a tree and beaten with wood boards by his attackers, who ranged in age from 18 to 21.
At one point the Israeli Arab youths threatened to electrocute the Palestinian using their car's battery. They then led the young Palestinian to a makeshift gallows and made him stand on a chair as a noose was placed around his neck. The oldest of the defendants then kicked the chair out from under the Palestinian, who fainted after dangling in the air for a few seconds. Apparently frightened by what they had done, the Israeli Arabs cut the Palestinian down and notified the police of his location.