The action was filed further to the serious, direct damages caused to the school which included two classrooms and the equipment in them, windows, and the alarm and fire extinguishing systems.
In addition to the above-mentioned damages, the claim includes ancillary expenses caused as a result of the arson attack, aside from the damage to the building. Following the arson attack, students at the school required psychological counseling as well as mental support and care. The fire at the school resulted in significant damages to equipment belonging to the students in the classes: books, bags, drawings, toys and clothes, which had significant emotional value for the students.
At the beginning of the year, the three defendants were convicted of setting the school on fire and causing the damages, and they were sentenced to lengthy periods of incarceration. The indictments, to which the defendants pleaded guilty, noted that the act was committed because of the fact that both Jewish and Arab students attend the school together, from a desire to generate media attention, and as part of their activity to prevent assimilation and co-existence between Jews and Arabs in Jerusalem.
In light of the defendants’ admission of guilt, and their conviction for the arson attack on the school, the Municipality decided to sue them directly for the costs of the damages caused as a result of the crime they committed.
Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said “Let it be known to anyone who damages the city’s infrastructure, light rail or educational establishments that, criminal proceedings aside, we will take every possible action to ensure that they pay the full price for the damages they cause”.