Israel fiesta ended in fight

Seven anti-Israel protesters will press charges at the Booysens Police Station this morning.

They claim they were assaulted by members of the Jewish Community Security Organisation.

They are also expected to file charges against the South African Zionist Federation and the South African Jewish Board of Deputies.

The alleged altercation took place at Gold Reef City Casino, during the Israel Independence Day celebrations on Monday.

Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions South Africa spokesperson Muhammed Desai said yesterday: "The medical reports were done over the past three days.

"We were considering laying [charges] then, but [the victims] were seriously traumatised ... they [got] some counselling."

The group claims two female protesters' heads were smashed against the concrete paving of the casino's parking lot, that protesters were subdued with cable ties, and that some protesters had their cellphones taken from them.

But Jewish Board of Deputies president Avrom Krengel dismissed the allegations yesterday.

"The charges of violentassault on protesters at Monday night's Israel Independence Day celebrations at Gold Reef City are false and defamatory," he said.

Krengel added that the protesters, said to number over 250, illegally disrupted a private function - encroaching on several Jewish people's right to celebrate their "culture and heritage".

He continued: "Having, under false pretences, gained access to the venue where a concert was being held, protesters threw stink bombs into the audience, attacked and injured an elderly woman and forced themselves onto the stage, where they attempted to attack the performers."

Johannesburg Central spokesman Constable Michael Kgatle said he was aware of the incident, but that no charges had been laid so far.