A St Andrews University student’s career plans are in tatters after he was found guilty of defiling an Israeli flag.
Paul Donnachie rubbed his hands on his genitals before wiping them on the flag, which belonged to Jewish exchange student Chanan Reitblat (21), before shouting about “a nation built on terrorism” and “they are all suicide bombers.”
The 19-year-old was immediately expelled from university after he was found guilty of the offence at Cupar Sheriff Court on Tuesday. The offence was deemed to be racially aggravated.
Samuel Colchester (20), who faced an identical charge, was acquitted after the case against him was found to be not proven. He was nevertheless suspended from the university for one year following an internal investigation by chiefs at the world-renowned seat of learning.
Mr Reitblat, who fled Communist Lithuania as a child to escape “severe Jewish oppression,” said he felt “utterly violated” by the offence, which was committed on March 12 in the halls of residence he shared with the accused.
A packed court watched as Donnachie took to the witness stand on Tuesday. He said he had been “politically active” for several years and added that he was a member of the St Andrews University Palestine group.
Donnachie did not dispute making comments about Israel being a “terrorist state” after entering Mr Reitblat’s room in a drunken sate on the day in question. He also freely admitted rubbing his genitals before wiping his hands on the flag Mr Reitblat had pinned above his bed.
However, the teenager insisted his actions represented a legitimate, if misguided, form of political protest.
The flag had been given to Mr Reitblat by his brother, who had previously fought with the Israeli Defence Force (IDF).
“I had drunk six or seven pints and perhaps two or three alcopops,” Donnachie told the court. “I made some comments about the flag and stated that Israel is a terrorist state.”
When asked by his solicitor Patrick Campbell if he had “done something with his hands and the flag,” Donnachie replied: “Yes, I did.”
“Disrespecting the flag is a time-honoured method of expressing one’s disapproval with the actions of a state,” he continued. “This was a political statement and not a statement about one individual.”
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Donnachie continued it was “nothing personal” against Mr Reitblat, whom he regarded as a friend.
During further questioning he did not deny posting Facebook comments, including one saying: “There is a Zionist in my hall.”
Another message said: “I got into sh*t for disrespecting (an Israeli flag). F**k them. Standing my ground to the end on this one.”
Donnachie described anti-semitism as “abhorrent” but acknowledged his protest on the night followed the “logic of an inebriated mind.”
“I would not categorise what I did as right-thinking,” he continued. “However, nor do I believe it was racist.
“I am not suggesting it was a dignified thing to do … but by displaying a flag of Israel you are making a controversial statement which invites criticism. What I did was a symbolic gesture toward a flag.”
Among others giving evidence was fellow student Graeme Nimmo. The 24-year-old said he was trying to sleep in the halls of residence he shared with the accused and Mr Reitblat when he was woken up by a “commotion” in the corridor close to the complainer’s room.
“There was a lot of shouting,” he told the court. “There were several voices but Paul Donnachie’s was the loudest and the most recognisable.”
When asked by depute fiscal Brian Robertson what Donnachie was saying, Mr Nimmo replied: “Paul was saying: ‘It’s a nation built on terrorism’ and ‘They are all suicide bombers’.”
Finding Donnachie guilty, Sheriff Charles Macnair said he was not interested in any wider debate about “the Palestinian population in the West Bank and the Gaza strip.”
“This case is not about the right and wrongs of any actions by the government of Israel,” he said. “I am satisfied that you (Donnachie) acted in a manner which caused the complainer alarm and distress. That is in terms of both the remarks you made and your conduct with regard to the flag.
“It was wholly uncalled for,” the sheriff continued. “This flag was the personal property of another … You had no cause whatsoever for acting in this manner toward any piece of property belonging to another.”
Sheriff Macnair said he was also satisfied that Donnachie’s actions were racially motivated.
“I consider that you displayed malice toward Mr Reitblat because of his presumed membership of Israel,” he added.
Sentence was deferred until September 13.