Ofer Cassif Convicted of Assaulting Police Officer in Aggravated Circumstances
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
Member of Knesset Ofer Cassif was convicted of assaulting a police officer under aggravated circumstances during a protest in May 2022. The court ruled that Cassif intentionally struck the officer with his vehicle and then assaulted him physically in a disproportionate response. Cassif's defense claims of parliamentary immunity, accidental impact, and self-defense were rejected. The Joint List condemned the verdict as political persecution, while Cassif accused "Kahanists" of orchestrating a vendetta.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- MK Ofer Cassif was convicted of assaulting a police officer under aggravated circumstances.
- The court found Cassif intentionally hit the officer with his vehicle and then physically assaulted him.
- Cassif's defense arguments, including parliamentary immunity and self-defense, were rejected by the court.
- The incident occurred in May 2022 during protests in the southern Hebron Hills.
- The Joint List condemned the verdict as political persecution.
- Cassif stated the trial was a political vendetta orchestrated by "Kahanists."
A Magistrate's Court on Thursday convicted Member of Knesset Ofer Cassif (Hadash-Ta'al) of assaulting a police officer under aggravated circumstances. The indictment stated that in May 2022, during protests in the southern Hebron Hills region, Cassif arrived at an area declared a closed military zone. Security forces stopped his vehicle, preventing him from proceeding due to safety concerns and a prohibition on entering Area A. Cassif then approached the vehicle to drive it himself. A dispute ensued between Cassif and a Border Police officer, during which Cassif allegedly hurled insults like "dirty liar, criminal, scum of humanity." When the officer blocked the vehicle with his body, Cassif drove backward a few meters and then slowly forward, hitting the officer's leg. The officer then struck the car's hood, and when Cassif exited, a verbal confrontation escalated. The officer lightly touched Cassif's face with his finger, prompting Cassif to forcefully strike the officer on the head, causing him pain in his head and leg.
Cassif denied the charges, claiming parliamentary immunity, that the vehicle impact was accidental, and that his strike was in self-defense after the officer allegedly touched him. The court rejected all defense arguments, finding that security forces acted lawfully and with full authority for safety reasons. It determined that Cassif intentionally hit the officer with his vehicle and that his violent response was disproportionate and not covered by self-defense, as it followed an incidental touch. The court also dismissed Cassif's claim of selective enforcement.
The Joint List responded, calling the trial a "political persecution" and expressing solidarity with Cassif and the Palestinian residents of Masafer Yatta, who they claim are facing settler violence with government backing. Cassif himself stated that the legal proceedings were an attempt to silence dissenting voices and accused "Kahanists," many of whom he called "serial offenders," of orchestrating a political vendetta and terrorizing Palestinians.
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