Two terrorists convicted of arson of the Yusufyev family home in the Shimon HaTzadik neighborhood of Jerusalem will pay 1,608,000 shekels in compensation to the family members.
This is a ruling by Jerusalem District Court Judge Eran Shiloh, after the terrorists, Mu'taz Hajmahmoud and Bilal Ja'bari, did not file a defense in the civil lawsuit filed against them.
The lawsuit was filed by Tal and Reut Yushobeiv and their children, through attorney Haim Bleicher of Mehonu, following the conviction of the two terrorists in criminal proceedings.
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According to the indictment and affidavits, the Yushobeiv family was subjected to repeated terrorist attacks motivated by racism and anti-Semitism: During the events, the terrorists threw Molotov cocktails at their home, which was partly built of wood. The bottles ignited a fire in the family home, which burned down the bedroom of the family's children - who fortunately were not home at the time.
After the arson, the family was forced to live outside their home for a long time until all the damage was repaired. The terrorists also set fire to the family's vehicle.
In an affidavit attached to the lawsuit, the mother of the family, Reut, described the attack: "My husband, I, and my children were victims of a violent and brutal attack motivated by anti-Semitic-racist motives, and this was because we were Jews. We were subjected to repeated terrorist attacks, which made me and my family feel persecuted inside the house, and time after time we felt in real danger to our lives. Our house and car were burned down!""
The lawsuit filed by Attorney Haim Bleicher of Mhonenu details the damage caused to the family as a result of the incident and details the pain and suffering they experienced, and still experience, in its aftermath: The head of the family, Tal Yushoviev, was forced to miss an academic year of school, and his wife, Reut, was in advanced pregnancy and postpartum during that period.
Both testified that they and their children suffer from mental difficulties and that they were forced to move from house to house, which damaged family stability and left an impression on them to this day.
In their request for a verdict, the plaintiffs demanded compensation for emotional distress, special damages, and punitive damages, in accordance with the Terrorism Victims Compensation Law. As stated, the total compensation required is 1,608,000 shekels.
Judge Shilo accepted the claim in full and ordered the defendants, jointly and severally, to pay the plaintiffs the full amount. In addition, the defendants were ordered to pay attorney fees in the amount of 160,800 shekels.
The Yushoviev family said: "Many thanks to the Honenu organization and attorney Haim Bleicher. We hope that the law enforcement authorities will actually collect the compensation payments from the terrorists. Every terrorist knew that attacking Jews would cost him dearly.".
Attorney Haim Bleicher, who represents the family members as victims of a crime: "Anyone who carries out terrorism against the people of Israel should know that he will be pursued until he is exacted a heavy price for his actions. The people of Israel are subject to a ceaseless war against those who seek their harm on all fronts, and so is the enemy who lives in all the cities of the Land of Israel and in the capital, Jerusalem. The economic front of the terrorists' claims constitutes an important tool in the war on terror, and with God's blessing we are privileged to take part in it.".
