Israeli businessman charged for allegedly choking, slamming anti-Israel protester who repeatedly called him a Jewish slur
An Israeli businessman was hit with criminal charges for chokeslamming an anti-Israel protester — but claims he acted in self-defense after the “antisemitic bigot” repeatedly called him a “genocidal Jew,” his lawyers said Friday.
Attorneys for Yotam Danker, an Israel citizen who served in the Israel Defense Forces, said the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office had the case all wrong, and that their client acted out of fear for his life during the Jan. 26 encounter in Midtown.
“The DA’s office has decided to weigh into the current Gaza-Israeli situation by arresting and charging a private citizen who was insulted by an anti-Semitic, bigot who repeatedly called him a genocidal Jew,” lawyer Zach Intrater said after Danker’s Manhattan Criminal Court arraignment Friday.
“My client was doing absolutely nothing.”
Prosecutors claim that Danker, a senior vice president for Carmel Partner, was walking with his pals on East 55th Street around noon when they started beefing with Simon Miller, who was handing out fliers.
Danker allegedly returned about 10 minutes later, grabbed Miller by the throat, slammed him to the concrete and put him in a rear chokehold, wrapping his arms around his throat and causing him to become disoriented, before running off, according to prosecutors and sources.
Miller suffered bruising, a small laceration to the neck and a cut to the hand.
But Danker’s attorney said he was simply trying to grab some lunch when Miller, who was allegedly protesting against Israel, began spewing the hateful speech
“When my client returned from getting his lunch, this antisemitic bigot continued to harass, assault him using horrific antisemitic language,” Intrater said, adding that Danker only ran off because he feared that his “life was in danger.”
Judge Rachel Pauley asked prosecutors what was written on Miller’s fliers – which they couldn’t identify – but Danker’s attorney said that he “guessed” they contained the same “antisemitic language” that was hurled at Danker.
Teny Geragos, another attorney for Danker, said in court that Danker’s chokeslam came after he was repeatedly called a “genocidal Jew,” adding that Danker should be released on his own recognizance since he never had any run-ins with the law.
Dankner was charged with strangulation, assault and criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation.
Prosecutors asked for supervised release on the bail-eligible charges.
The judge released Danker, whose next court date is scheduled for April 17.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office says they are continuing to investigate the case.