An elderly Jewish man was killed in Westlake Village, in the greater Los Angeles area, on Monday, after an anti-Israel protestor struck him in the head with a megaphone, the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles said in a statement.
“Our hearts are with the family of the victim,” the Federation said. “While we wait for more information from our law enforcement partners, we remind you that this is the fourth major antisemitic crime committed in Los Angeles this year alone.”
“Violence against our people has no place in civilized society,” it added. “We demand safety. We will not tolerate violence against our community. We will do everything in our power to prevent it.”
Photos and videos on social media, which blurred the face of the victim, appeared to show a man bleeding from his head lying on the ground.
Israeli media referred to the victim as “an older Jewish man” and the alleged attacker as a “young pro-Palestinian protester.”
“The injured man fell to the ground bleeding and was rushed to the hospital. His death was confirmed to have been caused due to a brain hemorrhage,” per reports. “Israelis who were present at the scene described it as ‘a terrifying sight’ and expressed shock that such an incident took place in their neighborhood.”
Police have reportedly seized the alleged attacker’s phone, on which the attack was filmed.
The LAPD referred JNS to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, which it said is handling the investigation. The sheriff’s office did not immediately respond to a JNS query.
https://lamag.com/crimeinla/thousand-oaks-jewish-man-dies-pro-palestine-protestor-westlake-village
ReplyDeleteTensions between pro-Palestine protestors and pro-Israel counterprotestors in Westlake Village turned deadly on Sunday afternoon when a 65-year-old Jewish man was pushed to the ground and landed on his head, sustaining injuries that led to his death on Monday morning.
Los Angeles magazine confirmed the death of Paul Kessler through an audio message from Rabbi Moshe D. Bryski, executive director of Chabad of Agoura Hills and dean of the Conejo Jewish Academy in the area, who was letting the community know about the incident.
"There was some altercation between him and one of the pro-Palestinian demonstrators," Rabbi Bryski said. "The details are not known yet exactly what took place but we do know that Paul Kessler from Thousand Oaks was pushed, he fell to the ground, he banged his head on the pavement, and early this morning he passed away."
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles also confirmed Kessler's death, though shared a different narrative of the conflict and assault leading up to it, stating earlier today that he "was struck in the head by a megaphone wielded by a pro-Palestinian protestor in Westlake Village.
Rabbi Michael Barclay of Temple Ner Simcha in Westlake Village tweeted this evening after speaking to the Chief of Police.
"As of 5:42pm, this is the situation: They have conflicting reports of what happened, and they did interview the suspect that is identified in social media at the event. They have no video," he wrote on X. "They are seeking any video thay shows Paul being attacked, but do not have any right now. IF YOU HAVE VIDEO OF HIM BEING ATTACKED, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO ME AT Rabbi@NerSimcha.org and it will immediately get to the police."
https://meaww.com/who-was-paul-kesler-jewish-man-dies-after-altercation-with-protesters-at-pro-palestine-rally-in-california
ReplyDeleteHashem yinkom damoi