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Pro-Palestinian Activist Sentenced to 18 Months for Attack on Jewish Man in New York

(New York Post-Times of Israel) Kyle Schnitzer - A Manhattan court sentenced Waseem Awawdeh, 24, to 18 months in prison for attacking Joseph Borgen, 31, during a clash between Israeli and Palestinian supporters on May 20, 2021. Awawdeh was one of five assailants who punched, kicked, pepper-sprayed and beat Borgen with crutches, causing injuries, including a concussion. Another attacker, Faisal Elezzi, pleaded guilty in April and was sentenced to three years of probation and mandatory anti-bias programming. The three remaining defendants - Mohammed Othman, Mohammed Said Othman and Mahmoud Musa - are to stand trial in August. In his victim impact statement, Borgen asked the court, "Why is he getting a break? I really can't fathom why he's getting a [plea] deal....What kind of message does this send - to everybody, to all victims of hate crime? Not just Jewish people but anyone who is a victim of a hate crime. You can say you won't do it again, get arrested while on bail, do whatever you want, and you know what? We'll give you a slap on the wrist - it's okay!"
2023-06-15 00:00:00
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