German media reported today (Sunday) that an Israeli tourist was attacked with violence in the Kreuzberg district in western Berlin and was seriously injured. The police have launched an investigation into the incident and are examining whether it was an anti-Semitic attack.
According to the reports, the incident occurred while the Israeli tourist, described as a 19-year-old youth, was walking on the street with another Israeli citizen, a woman, and speaking on his phone in Hebrew. At some point, a vehicle stopped next to him, and three men came out of it and started talking to him.
After the young man said that he does not speak German, the men began to beat and kick him until he fell to the ground. They then returned to their car and fled the scene. The Israeli was taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. It was also reported that the Israeli woman who was with the young man was not injured in the incident.
Israel's ambassador to Germany, Ron Prosor, swiftly condemned the attack and called on the German authorities to investigate the incident and bring the attackers to justice. "Another Israeli has been viciously attacked in the capital of Germany – this is unacceptable," he said. "Israelis and Jews should not feel that they cannot walk safely on the streets of Berlin or any other German city. The German authorities must take all measures to stop the attacks and incitement against Israel and Jews before it's too late."
Germany's ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert, also responded to the incident and said, "This is a vile attack, and I hope these thugs will be apprehended. It is intolerable that such a thing could happen to a young Jew in Berlin."
