Rape of elderly woman sparks protests in Tel Aviv

Dec 31

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Rape of elderly woman sparks protests in Tel Aviv

Activists warn of anti-African violence in Israel after Eritrean is charged with rape.

Demonstrators in Tel Aviv lead a protest against African migrants on December 31, 2012. Photo from Twitter user Revolawtionary.

Israelis in Tel Aviv demonstrated on Monday against African migrants after a young Eritrean man was arrested for the alleged rape of an 83-year-old woman. The rape reportedly took place over several hours in the backyard of the woman's building. According to police, the man was identified by DNA at the scene that matched DNA from a prior arrest.

View the story "Rape of elderly woman sparks protests in Tel Aviv" on StorifyRape of elderly woman sparks protests in Tel AvivActivists warn of anti-African violence in Israel after Eritrean is charged with rape.Storified by The Stream· Mon, Dec 31 2012 12:36:16Journalist David Sheen reported more than 100 protesters at the demonstration, which was led by Michael Ben Ari, a leader of the ultra-nationalist 'Strength for Israel' party. Below are tweets from the scene of the protest in Tel Aviv. Crowd of anti african marchers is swelling as it heads west toward levinsky park. Took over the whole street.D Roth Looks like at least 40 border police blocking Ben Ari protest march to Levinsky Garden. Ben ari criticizes the police http://pic.twitter.com/RFnk2FQtDavid WoodyWomen screaming: "the time has come to kick out the sudanese" http://pic.twitter.com/3rcy2fSsMischi Ran"Leftists to go back to africa, too" - racist march in tlvMischi RanRight-wing nationalists shout into shop filled w/Africans "Sudanese to Sudan," accost all black ppl they find http://pic.twitter.com/wpS3J2iHMax BlumenthalMoments after displaying anti-racist sign, a middle aged lady ripped it in half then charged me for photoing http://pic.twitter.com/OxGP5hXtMax BlumenthalDeranged Kahanist woman berates @adanielroth in front of Ben-Ari/Eldad Tel Aviv HQ, says all Sudanese should be raped http://pic.twitter.com/X8DsMfGqMax BlumenthalGroup of Israelis leave demo, loudly and verbally accosting every African person they passed, including a woman with a baby in her armsDavid SheenAt Tel Aviv anti-African rally, speaker on megaphone, "Whether they rape or not, whether they steal or not, they shouldn't be here".David SheenHuman rights activists and journalists tweeted details with warnings of what some described as "racist" protests:IMPORTANT: Please inform all your refugee friends to stay in their houses during the racist protest scheduled for 6pm at Hatikva, Tel Aviv.HMW IsraelHappy new year: Anti-African pogrom begins 6pm, Hatikvah Qtr, Tel Aviv. Right-wing nationalists to target Amine bar & any Africans they findMax BlumenthalAll Africans in South Tel Aviv tonight will be punished for one man's crime. Race pogroms are badly contained by Israeli police.Tehillah NiselowThe police concealed the identity of the suspect for ten days after the rape, releasing information about his ethnicity on Monday morning. Many online debated the decision, with some saying it would likely lead to more violence against Africans in Israel.There's a reason police don't release info about the ethnic origin of perpetrators of crimes: so as not to fuel already-boiling-over racism.David Sheen@jethrosteve so Jews are not allowed to protest against, out of control crime being perpetrated by illegal migrant workers?Acquisitive@IAcquisitive Rape culture out of control in Israel, that's for sure. But official police reports show African crime rate lower than IsraeliDavid Sheen