Ofer Cassif Convicted of Assaulting Police Officer in Aggravated Circumstances

A Jerusalem Magistrate's Court convicted Member of Knesset Ofer Cassif on Thursday of assaulting a police officer in aggravated circumstances. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred approximately four years ago during a protest in the southern Hebron Hills.

According to the indictment, Cassif drove his vehicle into a police officer's leg and subsequently struck the officer on the head. The prosecution argued that these actions were intentional and aimed at preventing the officer from fulfilling his duties. Cassif claimed he acted in self-defense, stating the vehicle incident was accidental and the blow to the officer's head was an instinctive reaction.

The court rejected Cassif's defense, finding that his actions were not justified by self-defense or his parliamentary immunity. The prosecution's position, supported by visual evidence and eyewitness accounts, was accepted by the court.

Following the conviction, Cassif's political bloc, the Joint List, criticized the court's decision, labeling the proceedings a "political persecution trial." They asserted that the court favored police testimonies over those of human rights activists and accused Cassif of being targeted for participating in protests alongside Palestinian residents. The Joint List also criticized Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir for supporting officers involved in such incidents, expressing confidence that the conviction would be overturned on appeal and vowing continued support for Cassif.