Police Foul-up Allows Man Who Attacked Dayan to Flee

Labor Knesset member Yael Dayan suffered burns on her face and chest after a religious Jew threw a cup of tea at her during a tour of Hebron.

The assailant fled after he was brought to a nearby police station.

The incident occurred Tuesday when Dayan arrived at the Tomb of the Patriarchs with other members of the Knesset committee on the status of women.

“There was a group of people there, shouting the usual incitement,” Dayan said. “One of them came up to me, and, addressing me by my name, asked if I would like a cup of tea. I smiled, and said, of course, and then he threw it on me.”

The entire incident was filmed by television crews covering the visit.

The assailant apparently was able to get away during some confusion at the police station, according to the local police commander.

Border police guards had handed the suspect over to blue-uniformed police officers, who deal with civil matters.

But the police apparently were not informed that the man was a suspect for arrest, and he slipped away.

Jewish residents of Hebron said the individual was a resident of Jerusalem.

After the incident, right-wing demonstrators continued to crowd around the left-wing legislators.

“Now it was tea, but it could have been acid, or a bullet,” Dayan said, before turning to the protesters.

“Shame on you, it’s only one year since Rabin was killed,” she said to the protesters.

Dayan continued the tour with her colleagues, meeting with Palestinian officials and female activists in Hebron. She said the committee asked to meet with women from the Hebron Jewish community, who refused.

Noam Arnon, spokesman for the Jewish residents of Hebron, condemned the attack on Dayan.

It was also roundly condemned by Knesset members during a special discussion held later in the day.