After a chase, IDF forces apprehended four rock-throwing Arabs who had assaulted three Jewish shepherds near the community of Rimonim in the Binyamin Regional Council region on the morning of Monday, 25 Menachem Av. The shepherds were lightly injured and received medical treatment at the site. The Arabs were transferred to the Shomron Police.

Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher, who is assisting the shepherds with exacting their rights as crime victims, sent a letter to the Shomron Police in which he mentioned that recently there has been an increase in the number of attacks on Jewish shepherds in the Yehuda and Shomron regions. Bleicher demanded that the assailants be brought to justice. Additionally, the letter mentions that in addition to the four detained assailants there were dozens of other rioters who fled when the soldiers arrived. Left-wing activist Arik Ascherman was also present, and in Bleicher’s opinion Ascherman was behind the disturbance and incited the unrest.

Honenu Attorney Chayim Bleicher stated that, “Recently there have been several serious assaults on Jewish shepherds. These assaults are carried out in order to strike fear and cause panic among agriculturalists who are working the land.

“These assaults which endanger Israeli shepherds are carried out with the encouragement of left-wing activists who long ago crossed all red lines and are playing an active role in hostile and dangerous actions against Israeli citizens.
“We demand that the police, the army, and the law enforcement authorities take strong action against rioters and instigators. This dangerous phenomenon must be eradicated.”

In January, also near Rimonim, a Jewish shepherd was injured by rock-throwing Arabs during an attempted theft of his flock. Immediately following the incident left-wing activist Arik Ascherman appeared as well.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)