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Rabbi wounded in Dagestan discharged from Israeli hospital

"I don’t doubt that the attempt on my life was motivated by religious hatred,” Rabbi Ovadya Isakov said

MOSCOW, August 7 (Itar-Tass) - The condition of Rabbi Ovadya Isakov, wounded in the city of Derbent, Dagestan, has improved and he has been discharged from Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikva, sources from the Federation of Jewish Communists of Russia told Itar-Tass on Wednesday.

“As soon as I am on my feet capable to work at full capacity, our family will certainly return home,” Isakov said.

“The man shooting at me intended to kill me. He did not ask for money and was not looking for some valuables. I don’t doubt that the attempt on my life was motivated by religious hatred,” he added.

An unidentified gunman shot and wounded Isakov, 40, overnight to July 25. The rabbi suffered a penetrating gunshot wound in the breast and was rushed to hospital and operated. On the same day a plane from Tel Aviv airlifted him to Israel for further medical treatment. The plane with medics was sent by the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia.

Criminal proceedings were opened. Sources from the regional department of the Russian Investigative Committee said Isakov’s religious activity could be the motive behind the attack.

The Jewish community in Derbent is the biggest and most influential in Dagestan, and one of the oldest in the North Caucasian region. There are over 2,000 people in it at the moment.