A 31-year-old Israeli man was beaten unconscious in the Paris subway system on Tuesday after two attackers heard him speaking in Hebrew on a cell phone. “They punched me several times. My glasses were broken and I lost consciousness,” the victim later related.
He was taken to a hospital where he received a number of stitches, in addition to being treated for bleeding and shock. His nose was broken and his face was badly bruised.
French Jewish parliamentarian Meir Habib wrote in a Facebook about the attack:
“Hatred of Israel and anti-Semitic violence on a daily basis – an Israeli student absorbed blows in the middle of a crowded subway train simply because he speaks Hebrew.
“In the last few hours, I have been in constant contact with Yogev B., the young Israeli victim of an anti-Semitic aggression in Paris, obviously animated only by hatred of Israel.
“While leaving a voice message in Hebrew to his father on Whatsapp, the student, in university at the HEC Academic Center, was brutally beaten – to the point of unconsciousness – by two individuals of African origin in the middle of a Crowded Metro station full of people at 6 am.
“Transported in shock and bleeding to the hospital, he had to have stitches in his face, his nose is broken and his face is covered with bruises.
“What better proof is there that anti-Israel hatred is the new anti-Semitism!
“I spoke several times today with the young man, who is traumatized, like his family.
“He agreed that I make public some photos of his … injured face.
“At the moment I am speaking to you, he is making a complaint at the 10th district police station. The victim remembers several details about his attacker.
“This afternoon at the National Assembly, I directly advised the Minister of the Interior Christophe Castaner of the case. He showed himself very attentive and asked me about the state of health of Yogev. He assured me in person that all means would be implemented” to track down the attackers,” Habib added.
The victim was subsequently released from the hospital and went to the police station, where he filed a complaint, according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry.
The Israel Consul in Paris, Michel Harel, has been speaking with the victim and said he is “providing as much assistance as possible,” the Foreign Ministry said.