Source: United States Department of Justice Criminal Division
A San Diego County man was arrested today on a federal grand jury indictment charging him with assaulting a Jewish man near a synagogue in the Pico-Robertson area of Los Angeles, which was hosting an event to promote the purchase of real estate in Israel – an event protested by several pro-Palestinian groups.
“The defendant’s conduct, if proven, is a serious violation of the law – every American deserves to live without fear of violence based on who he is or how he worships,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to vigorously prosecuting such crimes of hate and violence.”
Zaid Gitesatani, 28, of Carlsbad, California, is charged with one count of hate crime. He is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.
According to the indictment that a federal grand jury returned on May 5, a real estate agency known as “My Home in Israel” advertised an event scheduled for June 23, 2024, at the Adas Torah Synagogue in Los Angeles’ Pico-Robertson neighborhood. The event was to promote land for sale in Israel.
Several pro-Palestinian groups then planned for and advertised a protest to take place at this event. One of those groups advertised a protest to “stand against settler expansion.” Gitesatani traveled to Los Angeles to attend this protest.
On the afternoon of the real estate event and protest, a Jewish man identified in the indictment as “Victim A” was walking his dog near the Adas Torah Synagogue when Gitesatani approached him from behind and punched him in the jaw, resulting in pain, redness, and swelling. After assaulting the victim, Gitesatani walked away and retreated into the crowd.
On the same day he assaulted Victim A, Gitesatani posted to his personal Instagram account a screenshot of his assault, a message that read, “Whooped the Zios today and we took their flag,” and two images of himself displaying his bruised knuckles following the assault.
In the two days following his assault on Victim A, Gitesatani had an exchange via Instagram with another user regarding the June 23, 2024, assault. Gitesatani wrote, “I whopped 2 zios,” “whooped,” “I swung good on them,” “It was satisfying,” and “I [sic] hand it [sic] numb from punching him so hard.”
Gitesatani also posted on Instagram a still image of his assault on Victim A with the caption, “The Chosen People sometimes need a good smack to wake up.”
If convicted, Gitesatani faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A U.S. District Court Judge would determine any sentence after considering the Sentencing Guidelines and other information.
The FBI is investigating this matter.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura A. Alexander for the Central District of California and Trial Attorney Erica O’Connell of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting this case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.