Israel activists convicted over ‘threatening’ behaviour towards BDS protester
Jonathan Hoffman and Damon Lenszner faced the court on Wednesday morning, where they were given community orders and fined over their actions
Two pro-Israel activists have been given community orders and fined at Hendon Magistrates Court for “threatening” behaviour towards a female pro-Palestinian activist in October last year.
Jonathan Hoffman, a former vice-president of the Zionist Federation, and Damon Lenszner, who recently moved to London from Plymouth to get more involved in Israel advocacy, faced the court on Wednesday morning.
The incident in question took place on Carnaby Street last year and video footage of the pair’s behaviour has been widely shared online. A warrant was issued for their arrest earlier this year when they failed to attend a pre-trial hearing.
This week, magistrates dismissed a more serious offence of common assault, but both men pleaded guilty to using threatening words and behaviour.
Hoffman, a blogger, crowdfunded his legal defence, saying he and Lenszner “attended to exercise our right of free speech” and “to counter the untruths”.
Watch the video of the incident here, from the account ‘Dirty Tricks Against Labour Party members’:
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