Attacker Hits Israeli Chief Justice With Sneaker

An Israeli man hurled his sneakers at Israel's Supreme Court chief justice on Wednesday during a hearing on medical marijuana, hitting her between the eyes, breaking her glasses and knocking her off her chair.

Dorit Beinisch, who is in her late 60s, was not seriously hurt, and the incident appeared to be an isolated one, though there have been rising numbers of threats against the judiciary.

The judge was hit by the first shoe and knocked to the ground as the second one flew overhead, witness Michael Eden said.

Eden said the assailant, a man with thinning gray hair, tossed the shoes from the fourth row of the packed courtroom, about 65 feet (20 meters) from the bench, while yelling ''you're corrupt, a traitor, because of you I lost everything.''

Beinisch, who has served as chief justice since 2006, received first aid in her chambers and was treated with ice before returning to the courtroom a few hours later to conclude the hearing. She was greeted with a round of applause from lawyers, journalists and guests.

Court spokeswoman Ayelet Filo identified the assailant as Pinchas Cohen, 52. She said his motive was unclear, but the attack did not appear linked to the hearing, where residents of a northern town were asking the court to shut down an authorized producer of medical marijuana.

A top court security official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to talk to the media, said the court has been aware of Cohen since he threatened a judge in 2006. The official said Cohen's beef with the judiciary stemmed from a dispute in family court. More