Israel condemns attack on Indian-origin Jew as 'deplorable' and 'unacceptable'

Israel on Wednesday condemned as "deplorable" and "unacceptable" the brutal racist attack on an Indian-origin Jew by two persons who called the victim a "Chinese" and yelled 'Corona! Corona" in Tiberias city.

"The brutal attack on Am-Shalem Singson is deplorable and I condemn it in the strongest sense. This act of violence is totally unacceptable," Deputy Director General at Israel's Foreign Ministry Gilad Cohen tweeted.

"To our Indian friends: This is not the Israeli way! I wish a speedy and full recovery," Cohen said.

Am-Shalem Singson, 28, from the Bnei Menashe community, hailing from the north-eastern states of Manipur and Mizoram, was admitted to the Poriya hospital with severe chest injuries last week.

Singson told the police that he tried very hard to explain to the attackers that he was not Chinese and was not infected by the coronavirus, but it did not help. The incident happened on Saturday.

Singson is a resident of the Ma'alot area and immigrated to Israel from India with his family three years ago.

There were no witnesses to the incident and the police search is primarily based on the security footage in the area.

"We were shocked to receive the report of the vicious and racist attack in Tiberias," said Michael Freund, Chairman and Founder of Shavei Israel, the organisation that has been working on the immigration of Bnei Menashe to Israel.

"I demand that the Israeli police investigate the incident immediately and prosecute those who committed this heinous act," Freund said.