The victim of an anti-Jewish gang attack in Manhattan has spoken out against the plea deal that released one of his assailants with just 18 months behind bars.
Joseph Borgen, 31, was brutally beaten by a group of pro-Palestinian protesters in May 2021, as he made his way to a pro-Israel rally in Times Square while wearing a yarmulke.
On Tuesday, Borgen struggled to contain his anger as he issued a victim impact statement in the sentencing of Waseem Awawdeh, 24, who was filmed beating Borgen with crutches, calling him a “dirty Jew” and spraying him with pepper spray.
‘Why is he getting a break? I really don’t get why he gets a deal. I personally wanted to go to trial, I wanted to see full justice,” Borgen told the court. New York Post.
The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg offered Awawdeh, who was sentenced to seven years in prison, the 18-month sentence in exchange for his guilty plea to second-degree attempted assault as a hate crime and gun possession criminal.
Joseph Borgen (above) struggled to contain his anger as he made a victim impact statement Tuesday in the sentencing of Waseem Awawdeh, 24, in Manhattan court
Awawdeh was sentenced to 18 months for his role in the Mafia attack on Borgen in May 2021, when the victim made his way to a pro-Israel rally while wearing a yarmulke
The attack on Borgen came during a spike in anti-Jewish crimes during a major outbreak of violence between Hamas and Israel in May 2021.
Awawdeh infamously said, “I have no problem doing it again” after his arrest, prosecutors said, adding, “If I could do it again, I would do it again.”
Bragg’s office said in a statement after Tuesday’s hearing: “No one should ever feel unsafe because of their religion, and we will not tolerate the anti-Semitic hatred displayed by the defendant in this case.”
“After a thorough and comprehensive investigation, Waseem Awawdeh has now been sentenced to 18 months in prison.
“The three remaining defendants are expected to go to trial on hate crime charges in the coming months and face significant jail time if convicted.”
At sentencing, Awawdeh’s attorney Peter Frankel vigorously defended his client, insisting that he harbored no anti-Jewish feelings.
“I’m a lifelong New Yorker, I’m a Jewish man. I have spent countless hours and days with it [Awawdeh],” Frankel told the court, the Post reported.
“I have seen nothing in my dealings with him to indicate that he is anti-Semitic in any way,” Frankel added, insisting that his client made a “mistake” but “has agreed to accept responsibility.”
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office offered Awawdeh, who was sentenced to seven years in prison, the 18-month sentence in exchange for his guilty plea
Waseem Awawdeh pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted assault as a hate crime and criminal gun possession
‘Why is he getting a break? I really don’t get why he gets a deal. I personally wanted to go to trial, I wanted to see full justice,” Borgen said
At sentencing, Awawdeh’s attorney Peter Frankel (left) vigorously defended his client, insisting he harbored no anti-Jewish feelings
But in his impact statement, Borgen said he felt the 18-month sentence was too light.
“What kind of message does this send – to everyone, to all victims of hate crimes?” he said, according to the Post.
“Not just Jewish people, but anyone who is a victim of a hate crime. You can say you won’t do it again, get arrested while out on bail, do whatever you want, and you know what? We’ll slap you on the wrist – it’s okay!” Borgen added.
Judge Felicia Mennin approved the plea deal and verdict.
“The behavior of the group was despicable,” she said. “That’s not how people behave in a civilized society.”
In 2021, days after the brutal attack, Borgen spoke out in an interview with DailyMail.com, saying he thought he was going to die after a gang of pro-Palestinian protesters attacked him in Midtown Manhattan.
Borgen, an accountant who lives on the Upper East Side, wore a gray yarmulke and was walking toward a pro-Israel rally in Times Square around 6:30 p.m. when a young man wearing a black bandana began to chase him.
“I turned around to try to figure out what was going on and the next thing I knew I was surrounded by a whole mob of people physically attacking me, punching me, kicking me, beating me, beating me with crutches, I hit with flagpoles,” he told DailyMail.com after being discharged from Bellevue Hospital.
Video of the attack showed Borgen left defenseless on the ground as he was assaulted by the angry mob outside 1604 Broadway.
Pro-Palestinian protesters take on a group of Israel supporters and police during a violent confrontation in Times Square on May 20, 2021 in New York City
Wassem Awawdeh walks out of the 5th Precinct to Central Booking for assaulting a Jewish man during a Palestinian/Israeli protest on 47th Street in Manhattan
Borgen is seen in the hospital on the left and in an interview a day after the attack on the right
“After I landed on the floor, I was literally just in a fetal position trying to guard my head and face, literally just trying to get out of their lives,” Borgen said.
‘I thought I was going to die. I thought I was really going to die.’
Borgen said eight to 10 people took part in the beating and shouted anti-Semitic slurs such as, “You filthy Jew. We’re gonna fucking kill you. Go back to Israel. Hamas is going to kill you.’
He said the most painful part happened towards the end, when they sprayed him with pepper spray.
‘I thought I was being peed on because I felt a spray on my face. They maced or pepper sprayed me for a minute.”
Another defendant, Faisal Elezzi, pleaded guilty to third-degree attempted assault as a hate crime and was sentenced to three years’ probation.
Three other defendants have pending charges in the case. They are Mohammed Othman, Mohammed Said Othman and Mahmoud Musa.