'Why do you support those dirty Jews?' Suspect accused of punching man for wearing Israel Defense Forces hoodie pleads guilty to anti-Semitic hate crime

A suspect accused of punching a Jewish man in December 2021 for wearing an Israel Defense Forces hoodie has pleaded guilty to an anti-Semitic hate crime.

What are the details?

Suleiman Othman, 28, was accused of punching Blake Zavadsky twice and throwing an iced coffee on him on Dec. 26, 2021, in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bay Ridge because Zavadsky was wearing a green hoodie emblazoned with a yellow IDF slogan, the New York Post reported.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Othman, of Staten Island, pleaded guilty Monday to attempted third-degree assault as a hate crime in Brooklyn Supreme Court, the paper reported.

The Post — citing the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office — said the terms of the plea deal stipulate that Othman is to receive a 60-day jail term and three years’ probation at his Sept. 20 sentencing.

What's the background?

Prosecutors said Zavadsky was standing outside a Foot Locker wearing the hoodie when Othman came up to him and asked, “Why do you support those dirty Jews?" the paper reported.

“What are you doing in my neighborhood? You mess with the killers. If you don’t take off your hoodie, I’m going to punch you,” Othman added, according to the DA's office, the Post noted.

But Zavadsky refused to take off his hoodie, after which Othman attacked him, prosecutors said, according to the paper.

Othman fled and wasn’t arrested until Jan. 11, 2022, after he was seen on multiple surveillance cameras, the Post reported, citing the DA’s office.

“The hateful and unprovoked assault this defendant admitted to today left one victim hurt, but also shook an entire community,” District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement, according to the paper. “His conviction, jail time, and probation should send a message that this kind of intolerance has serious consequences.”

Zavadsky told the Post a day after the anti-Semitic attack that he wouldn’t stop wearing the hoodie.

“You can’t be scared to walk outside and say you’re Jewish,” he said, according to the paper. “You have to be proud of who you are and stand up for what you believe — and not be intimidated.”

Othman’s criminal defense attorney Muhammad Ikhlas declined to comment Tuesday, the Post added.

Here's a video report that aired shortly after the attack:

Victim Of Antisemitic Attack In Brooklyn Speaks Outyoutu.be

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