Soldier Detained After Defending Tourist Group in Akko

A soldier who pulled out his gun to defend a group of tourists being attacked by Arabs in Akko was detained by police, who confiscated the weapon, Arutz Sheva reported on Monday.

The Arabs tried to push the tourists from a high wall in the Old City.

“We were touring inside the Old City, when suddenly an Arab youth came up to us and threatened to push us off the wall to the ground below,” one of the tourists recounted later. “We’re talking about a high wall — 36 feet. After several minutes, more men and youth joined in. One of them actually tried to push members of our group from the wall and endanger their lives.

“I and another of my friends were forced to jump to the lower rampart so that we wouldn’t fall in the direction of the sea and rocks below,” one of the hikers said.

After the incident, the soldier was taken to the local police station for questioning, and his weapon was taken away from him. Attorney Adi Kedar of the Honenu Legal Rights Organization is providing him with legal counsel.

At the same time, the tourists filed a complaint with the police against the Arab attackers.

An indignant Kedar said: “We’re talking about a scandal: a group of tourists is attacked, a soldier is forced to pull out his gun to defend his life and those of his comrades — and finds himself under investigation.”

“It’s a pity that police are again taking a stance at an early stage and are detaining suspects without having clarified the details of the incident. I am certain that [the soldier] will be freed soon. I hope that those that perpetrated the incident and the threats will be arrested and brought to justice.”