Thamar Badawi, an Arab allegedly beaten by two religious Jews in Jerusalem on Monday, spoke about his ordeal on Tuesday from his bed in Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.

"I was riding a bicycle with a friend on Jaffa Road when I saw two religious Jews," Badawi said. "They saw us and after hearing us speak Arabic immediately set upon us. My friend fled and they struck me without any reason at all until I lost consciousness. I didn't do anything to them. They don't want peace, they only want to beat Arabs. Why did they do this to me?"

Badawi, a resident of Beit Hanina in east Jerusalem, was taken to the hospital after the incident with light injuries to his head. He was released to his home on Tuesday afternoon after doctors said he no longer needed to remain in the hospital.

The victim's distraught mother said on Tuesday, "He is angry with those who attacked him and doesn't feel well." She said she did not believe something like that could ever happen. "I work with Jews and have contact with them. Something like this has never happened before. He is a good boy who doesn't disturb anyone. They beat him for no reason. The police must find those who did this and punish them."

Police investigators are still looking for the two youths who perpetrated the assault with what is believed to be a blunt object. Policemen who arrived at the scene of the incident began searching the area but were unable to locate the suspects.

Investigators believe the act was a nationalistically motivated crime.