In a disturbing incident on Sunday, a North African Palestinian migrant, identified as Bechir Lehbeib, allegedly committed a hate crime in Long Island.
The 26-year-old asylum seeker is accused of stealing an Israeli flag and a pro-Israel banner from a residence, assaulting the homeowner, and uttering anti-Semitic slurs.
According to the Nassau County Police Department, Lehbeib took a U.S.-Israeli flag and a banner stating, "In this home we stand with Israel," from outside a house. When the homeowner confronted him to retrieve his property, Lehbeib reportedly responded with physical violence, punching the victim.
Despite the assault, the homeowner managed to reclaim his property. However, Lehbeib allegedly attacked him once more, wresting the flag and banner from his grasp. He then proceeded to trample on them, expressing his antipathy towards Jews.
Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman (R.) recounted Lehbeib's alleged words at a press conference, "Basically saying, 'kill all the Jews' and other heinous crimes and indignities."
Authorities report that Lehbeib informed the victim of his Palestinian heritage, issued threats, and then fled the scene. ABC 7 reports that he had previously resided in a migrant shelter in Staten Island and a house in Queens. District Attorney Anne Donnelly (R.) has charged him with robbery, assault, and criminal mischief, all classified as hate crimes.
The incident was reported to the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force, as per Fox News. The news outlet also stated that Lehbeib entered the U.S. from Mexico via Arizona during the summer, although ABC 7 claims he arrived in November.
This attack follows an incident a week prior where a group of migrants allegedly assaulted police officers in Times Square. This led Governor Kathy Hochul (D.) to demand their deportation. Hochul is not alone in her strong stance on the migrant crisis. Last month, New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D.) urged the federal government to address the issue during his State of the City address, warning that it could "destroy New York City."
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