Man sentenced to 21 years over 2023 rape that charged tensions
A man has been sentenced to 21 years in prison for the brutal rape of a woman in her home in Gedera in 2023, in a case that charged Jewish-Arab tensions despite no evidence of nationalist motivations.
Barakat Abu Asa, from the Bedouin town of Tel Sheva, was found guilty in April of aggravated rape and abusing his victim’s two-year-old son, who was present in the house at the time of the assault.
According to the indictment, Abu Asa had been working at a construction site across from the victim’s home in the central town.
On the night of February 2, 2023, he broke into her home with rolls of thick tape, which he used to tie her wrists and ankles and cover her mouth and her eyes. He then dragged her to the house’s safe room and raped her.
The brutal assault sparked an uproar at the time and heated Jewish-Arab tensions in Gedera, though prosecutors found no basis for charging Abu Asa with nationalistically motivated offenses.
Days after Abu Asa’s arrest, police said they questioned four men on suspicion of planning to attack Arab construction workers in revenge for the rape.
National Security Itamar Ben Gvir was present at the hearing and reiterated claims that the crime was nationalistic.
The far-right politician, who has campaigned on Jewish-Arab friction, denies to reporters that his appearance was tied to the upcoming election.
State prosecutors involved in the case hail the court’s decision, saying it established a new legal precedent in its determination that the assault in its own right constituted abuse of the victim’s child.
Abu Asa is also ordered to pay NIS 200,000 ($65,000) in damages to his victim.
“We commend the complainant for the courageous testimony she gave in court,” the State Attorney’s Office says. “She bravely endured a difficult journey, and we hope that this sentence will be of some comfort to her, so that she can continue her journey of recovery.”