Elderly Haifa falafel stand owner beaten on way to work, two suspected attackers arrested

George Abu Shakara, 76, owner of the well-known falafel stand bearing his name in Haifa's Wadi Nisnas neighborhood, was attacked and injured Saturday morning on his way to work.

The circumstances have yet to be clarified, but residents of the neighborhood claim the attack was racially motivated. Haifa police are investigating the incident, but deny that the attack was racially motivated. Two suspects have been arrested.

Abu Shakara told Walla that two men, whom he estimated to be around 30 years old, attacked him in the morning as he made his way to his business. 

According to Abu Shakara, the two chased him, caught up with him near his business, and beat him with a stick. After he fell to the ground, they continued beating him with their hands and feet.

He was treated at Rambam Health Care Campus and subsequently returned home, struggling to walk and unable to work.

Suspects continued beating victim after he fell over

"I woke up in the morning and went to work as usual. I came across two guys and didn't speak to them at all," he recalled. "As I passed them, one of them said to me, 'Come here, come here.' He called me several times, and I didn't answer him. Then both of them ran after me, and I ran. When I got close to my business, they caught up with me."

According to Abu Shakara, the attack took place a short distance uphill from the street where his business is located.

"One of them hit me twice in the head with a stick he was holding, and I fell to the ground. Even after I fell, they continued hitting me with their hands and feet," he said. "I tried to get away from them and reach my business."

Abu Shakara emphasized that he did not know the two men and that they had not demanded money or anything else from him.

"They didn't ask for anything. But the beating, don't ask how many times I was hit," he said.

According to him, he has taken the same route to work at the same time every day for many years.

"Every day, for years, and nothing like this has ever happened to me."

Police say attack not nationally motivated after both suspects apprehended

Police responded to the scene following the incident. According to Abu Shakara, police apprehended the suspect at the scene within about 15 minutes, and he was later told the second suspect had also been caught.

He also said he spent about four hours at Rambam Health Care Campus before being discharged home.

"I can't work. I can't even walk right now; I have a problem with my leg," he said.

His son and daughter stepped in to help and are currently running the family business on Saturday, its busiest day of the week.

In a statement on the incident, police said the attack was not nationally motivated. “This is based on the victim's testimony, the questioning of the suspect who was arrested shortly after the incident by Haifa police officers, and checks conducted with additional parties," the police added.