Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai is expected to launch a criminal investigation against two Joint List MKs who both assaulted police officers in separate incidents over the past few days.
Joint List MK Ofer Cassif on Friday attacked a police officer after he was prevented from joining a protest against the evacuation of illegal buildings near Chevron.
A video of the scene shows a police officer trying to halt Cassif’s car. The officer then approached the car and Kassif hit him on the head and verbally abused him.
As an MK, Cassif has parliamentary immunity and can legally travel throughout Israel. However, the police officer likely did not recognize him. Following the incident, Cassif, the sole Jewish member of the Joint List, took advantage of his immunity and entered the protest area, which has been declared a closed military area.
On Thursday, Joint List MK Ahmad Tibi confronted police in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Beit Hanina while riots were taking place over the death of Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh, and helped an Arab detainee escape arrest.
Arabs were arrested at the riot for throwing stones and other objects at the police but one of them managed to escape following Tibi’s intervention.
The suspect was later apprehended following a police chase and transferred for questioning.
Israel Police stated: “In recent days, we’ve been witness to the violent behavior of two Knesset members against police officers and the disruption of the performance of their legal duties. Their actions involve an alleged suspicion of committing criminal offenses against police officers who perform their duties in accordance with the law, offenses unrelated to their parliamentary duties.”
“The police districts where the incidents took place were asked to transfer all the materials and the incidents are being investigated by the Investigations and Intelligence Division. If it is found that the alleged criminal offenses have been committed, a request will be forwarded to the Attorney General to open a criminal investigation against them as soon as possible.”
לוחמים מעלים את הפוסט הזה, עצוב. pic.twitter.com/AOOyK0oOLm
— איתמר כרמון | itamar carmon (@itamarcarmon) May 15, 2022
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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8 Responses
These 2 wicked members of the Knesset should have immediately been neutralized by the police.
It would have solved several issues:-
1) Less hindrance in apprehending these arab terrorists;
2) 2 fewer mk’s in this “non-majority” evil coalition.
Are we so subservient to allow this ?
So much of Jewish prayer is about leaving Egypt and slavery
Are we slipping back into slavery ?
Bennett’s cabinet!!
the one who punched the officer is ofer casif who is a Jewish member of the arab party
There’s a Jewish member of the Joint List? The world is too bizarre.
FYI both are from the oppostion of Netanyahu and not part of Bennet’s coalition.
If you look closely, the cop hit the MK first. Cops in Israel are animals and this cop deserved it. Listen to the MK, he yells at the cop for hitting him. MKs deserve respect. This act of violance againt a MK should be punished to the Maximum of law!!!!!!!!!!
Police reportedly seeking criminal probes of Joint List MKs Tibi, Cassif
In recent events caught on video, Cassif seen hitting cop as security forces block his vehicle, while Tibi is accused of obstructing police by helping a suspect escape arrest
By TOI Staff, 16 May 2022.
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Israel Police ask A-G to open probe against Joint List MKs Tibi, Cassif
Tak Spungin, JPost, May 16, 2022 —
Opposition MKs Ahmad Tibi and Ofer Cassif were both involved in high-profile incidents with police forces last week.
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Israel: Police Request Probe Into Two Joint List Lawmakers
i24NEWS, May 16, 2022 —
Israel’s police requested a criminal investigation be opened against lawmakers Ahmad Tibi and Ofer Cassif from the Joint List party…
Cassif was filmed striking a police officer during a protest in the West Bank, as demonstrators were protesting the eviction of Palestinian families from the Masafer Yatta region.
The police accuse Cassif of assaulting a police officer in their request to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. They also accused him of obstructing an officer in the performance of his duties and of issuing threats…
Tibi is accused of assisting the escape of a Palestinian youth accused of throwing suspicious objects in east Jerusalem. Video footage shows Tibi arguing with police and separating them from the youth, who took the opportunity to run away…
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Joint List MK to be questioned by police over video of him assaulting officer
Months after incident, police get permission from attorney general for probe of Ofer Cassif, a sitting member of Knesset
By TOI Staff, Aug 2, 2022.
…the only Jewish member of the Joint List alliance of mostly Arab parties…
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Ofer Cassif summoned for investigation after cop violence incident – Israel News
JPost, Aug 2, 2022
In May, Cassif was filmed hitting an officer in the head during clashes in the West Bank.