MK Ofer Cassif Convicted of Assaulting Police Officer

A Magistrate's Court on Thursday convicted Member of Knesset Ofer Cassif of aggravated assault of a police officer. The conviction stems from an incident that occurred over four years ago during a protest in the southern Hebron hills. Judge Elazar Bialin ruled in a detailed verdict that Cassif intentionally struck police officer Yitzhak Azulai with his vehicle and subsequently hit him forcefully on the head.

The incident took place on May 13, 2022, amid protests against a Supreme Court ruling concerning villages in the Masafer Yatta area. Authorities had declared the vicinity of Highway 317's junction and the dirt roads leading to Yatta a closed military zone. Cassif arrived at the scene in his vehicle and joined the demonstrators. Around noon, security forces stopped his car on a dirt road, preventing him from proceeding, citing safety concerns and to prevent entry into Area A.

When Cassif approached his vehicle to drive it himself, a heated argument erupted between him, Border Police commander Dor Amitai, and officer Yitzhak Azulai. According to the indictment, Cassif verbally abused the officers, calling them "filthy liar," "fraudster," "criminal," "scum of humanity," and "zero." Officer Azulai stood in front of the car to block it. Cassif reversed a few meters, then slowly advanced, hitting Azulai's left leg with his vehicle. The officer struck the hood, and Cassif exited the car.

Following a verbal confrontation, during which the officer gestured with his finger and lightly touched Cassif's face, Cassif retaliated by forcefully striking the left side of the officer's head with his right hand. Azulai suffered pain in his head and leg as a result. Cassif pleaded not guilty, asserting his parliamentary immunity allowed him free movement and that the vehicle impact was accidental. He claimed he struck the officer in self-defense after being attacked. He also initially claimed selective enforcement.

Judge Bialin rejected all of Cassif's claims. Regarding immunity, the court found security forces acted lawfully to prevent danger and illegal entry into Area A. The judge stated Cassif's immunity did not grant him the right to endanger people or obstruct officers by driving his vehicle. The court determined it was proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Cassif intentionally hit the officer with his vehicle to disrupt his duties. The self-defense claim for the head strike was dismissed, with the judge deeming the blow disproportionate to the officer's incidental touch, which was caused by Cassif's own body movement. The selective enforcement claim was also rejected, with the court finding no flaw in the prosecution's conduct. The conviction was based on all presented evidence, including videos and testimonies.