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(TJV)Bechir Lehbeib, a 26-year-old migrant from Mauritania with pro-Palestinian leanings, is facing serious charges after allegedly assaulting a Jewish homeowner in Long Island. According to The New York Post, Lehbeib had previously been detained for illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border near Lukeville, Arizona, on July 20, 2023. Despite his unlawful entry, he was quickly released after claiming he feared for his safety back in Mauritania.
Fast forward to February 2024, Lehbeib found himself in New York, where he allegedly stole a pro-Israel flag from the front porch of a home in Hewlett, Nassau County. When the homeowner, Aleksandr Binyaminov, confronted him, Lehbeib reportedly attacked. According to reports, he put Binyaminov in a chokehold, headbutted him, and shouted, “I’m from Palestine,” during the assault.
Lehbeib was promptly arrested by local authorities and is now facing multiple hate crime charges, including second-degree assault, robbery, and criminal mischief. His bail was set at $50,000. During his arrest, Lehbeib allegedly explained that the sight of the Israeli flag triggered his violent response, stating, “If I see the flag of the people that killed my people, we will have a problem.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and other local officials condemned the federal immigration policies that led to Lehbeib’s release after his initial detention. They voiced concerns over the lack of thorough vetting of migrants and called for tougher measures to protect U.S. citizens. The case has further fueled the debate over the implications of open-border policies and heightened tensions surrounding pro-Palestinian sentiments amid ongoing global conflicts.
