Because of Arabic music: Be'er Sheva deputy mayor indicted for attacking gas station workers

The State Prosecutor's Office filed an indictment against Shimon Tovol, deputy mayor of Be'er Sheva, for assaulting two gas station workers in Kfar Aza during reserve duty. The confrontation began after Tovol demanded that Arabic music playing from one worker's vehicle be turned off. According to the indictment, Tovol grabbed the worker by the neck, hit him, and brandished his weapon, then attacked another worker. The case was investigated by the Southern Fraud Investigation Unit.

The State Prosecutor's Office today (Tuesday) filed an indictment with the Be'er Sheva Magistrate's Court against Shimon Tovol, 43, deputy mayor of Be'er Sheva, for assaulting two gas station workers in Kfar Aza during reserve duty. According to the indictment, the confrontation began over music in Arabic playing from one worker's vehicle. In September 2024, Tovol arrived at the gas station as part of his reserve service. After a person at the station complained about the music, Tovol entered the store, demanded the worker turn off the music, and when the worker replied that the vehicle belonged to him, shouted at him. Subsequently, Tovol grabbed the worker by the neck, hit him in the face, pushed him toward his vehicle while brandishing his weapon, and hit him again until bystanders separated them. Shortly after, another worker approached and asked what happened; Tovol pushed him in the chin and throat area while brandishing his weapon, until a soldier separated them. The indictment charges Tovol with two counts of assault. The case was investigated by the Southern Fraud Investigation Unit.