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Last update - 00:00 21/08/2008
Homeless man dies weeks after being beaten by Labor Party activist
By Ofra Edelman, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Labor Party, Shmuel Levi 

Rana Avraham, a homeless man who was assaulted earlier this month by former Labor Party activist Shmuel Levi, died of his wounds Wednesday night at Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv.

Avraham, 63, suffered head injuries, inner cranial bleeding, and damage to his ears after the assault on August 7. He had since been hospitalized and unconscious. On August 12, Levi was charged in a Tel Aviv court with aggravated manslaughter. Prosecutors are now contemplating whether to alter the indictment and charge Levi on more serious counts.

Levi made headlines due to his role as Ehud Barak's grassroots campaign manager during the successful 1999 run for prime minister. Levi, who was once linked to alleged financial irregularities in Barak's campaign, told police in late June that he could provide incriminating evidence implicating Barak. Levi claimed the Labor Party chairman was fully aware that bags of cash, in some cases totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, were transferred to party activists in the field. Police, however, say they have yet to find credible evidence to support the allegation.
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According to the indictment in the Avraham case, Levi is alleged to have noticed him in the street. He then approached him and began kicking him. When Levi saw Avraham on his feet a short time later, he once again accosted him and proceeded to beat him, knocking him to the pavement. Levi allegedly kicked Avraham in the head repeatedly, before stepping on his head. Civilian bystanders yelled for him to stop, and police subsequently arrived at the scene and arrested him.

Levi told police that he hit Avraham because he witnessed him improperly make contact with a minor. A Haaretz investigation concluded however that Avraham has no prior record of pedophilia.

Police investigators offered Levi a deal to turn state's witness against Barak in the straw companies affair, but Levi refused, instead preferring to exercise his right to remain silent. Levi is currently demanding the Labor Party pay him NIS 14 million he claims he is owed for services he provided
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  1.   DISGUSTING ! 15:58  |  Chaval 21/08/08
  2.   Protect the Weak 16:35  |  David 21/08/08
  3.   Those who beat the homeless must be beaten 17:38  |  Seth 21/08/08
  4.   More Slime from Labour 17:39  |  Gadi Peller 21/08/08
  5.   Murder 19:46  |  JG 21/08/08
  6.   what a horrible story 19:56  |  paula 21/08/08
  7.   I hope that he is charged with murder 20:17  |  Gee 21/08/08
  8.   awful 21:25  |  lebanese girl 21/08/08
  9.   How are we not to know that he fell? 21:53  |  Doctor S. 21/08/08
  10.   Labour`s ideology, cry justice abroad, and kill the just at home 22:04  |  no labourist 21/08/08
  11.   Elderly man beaten to death 22:10  |  Rozz 21/08/08
  12.   Anyone else remember? 06:32  |  Mark Lincoln 22/08/08
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