This video is from a non-religious news-channel. It is from the arrest of Zev Frank, arrested on Thursday for calling a pedestrian a "whore" and spitting on her. He is also being charged with assaulting the officers who arrested him while physically resisting arrest.
Frank is in the red circle, and the lady is in the blue. According to the anchor's observation, the police ‘might’ have seen what transpired between the two, it's ‘doubtful’ if they could have heard what he said, and he ‘definitely didn't assaulted’ the officers.
It goes to show how credible charges filed by the Israeli police are.
BTW, you'd be hard pressed to find this report in those Jewish blogs covering every charge and accusation by the Israeli police, as if they are clear facts.
But who cares for his rights? He only a zealot...
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I hope you're not suggesting that if he DID in fact spit or abuse her, that such actions are remotely acceptable! (Though I know in many situations, there can be an awful lot of provocation, it behooves us not to fall for it, as the damage can be terrible). The "assaulting police" claims appear to be clear nonsense. But I agree, there can be precious little respect for the presumption of innocence. This isn't usually the fault of the police as much as the media. Has Zev at least released a statement that he intends to contest the charges (for whatever that's worth)?
ReplyDeleteSpitting is not acceptable. One is allowed to murmur his displeasure of another one's behavior. According to news sources he's only admmitiong to have told her that she's dressed inproperly. He released a statement about the abuse he suffered in prison and he's represented by a lwayer. In the video clip, the lawyer reiterates that he only talked etc.
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't belong in jail, if this is true. As a general matter, here's my advice to people: Divrei chachomim benachas nishmoin, chazal say. If you have a problem with someone's dress, saying, mumbling, or yelling "prutzoh" is extremely unlikely to make them change their behaviour. A warm and gentle word that "you're a bas yisroel" can work wonders. Not every time, but at least sometimes. And if you are upset, it's better to be pained than enraged.
ReplyDeleteI tell people, do you think pinchos, upon seeing the horrifying behaviour of zimri, went "ahhh, wonderful! Here's my chance - how great that I've come across this! Now I can get a chance to be a kanoei". Or rather, did he (more likely) look upon the scene in front of his eyes with absolute horror and shock?
(General comment here. I don't know the specifics of what Zev said. I'm just commenting on how we should in general approach such people and situations, if we are to encourage chilonim to dress more tzniyosdik).