MK Ofer Cassif Convicted of Assaulting Police Officer

Magistrate Judge Bialin Elazar of the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court convicted Member of Knesset Ofer Cassif on Thursday of assaulting a police officer under aggravated circumstances. The indictment stated that on March 13, 2022, during protests in the South Hebron Hills region following a Supreme Court ruling concerning villages in the Masafer Yatta area, access roads were declared a closed military zone. Cassif arrived at the scene and joined demonstrators. When security forces stopped his vehicle, preventing his advance into Area A for safety reasons, Cassif approached the car. A heated argument ensued between Cassif and Border Police Commander Dor Amihai and Officer Yitzhak Azulai, during which Cassif allegedly hurled insults. Cassif then entered his vehicle. When Officer Azulai stood in front of the car to block its movement, Cassif drove backward a few meters, then forward slowly, hitting Azulai's left leg with the vehicle, intending to impede him in his duty. The officer struck the car's hood in response. As Cassif exited his vehicle, a verbal confrontation escalated, during which the officer lightly touched Cassif's face with his finger. Cassif then forcefully struck the officer's head with his right hand, causing pain to the officer's head and leg.

Cassif denied the charges, claiming parliamentary immunity that should have allowed him free passage, asserting the car incident was accidental, and that his strike to the officer's head was in self-defense after being allegedly assaulted. He also claimed selective enforcement. Judge Elazar rejected all defense arguments. The court determined that security forces acted lawfully and with full authority for safety reasons, and that while Cassif's parliamentary immunity allowed him free movement on foot, it did not grant him the right to endanger people or impede officers by driving. The court found it proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Cassif hit the officer with his vehicle knowingly and with intent to impede him. His violent response, striking the officer's head, was deemed disproportionate and not covered by self-defense, as it was an excessive reaction to a mere accidental touch. The claim of selective enforcement was also dismissed due to a significant lack of evidence and no procedural flaws in the prosecution's conduct. Based on the evidence, videos, and testimonies, the court convicted Cassif of assaulting a police officer under aggravated circumstances.

In response, Cassif stated, "My conviction should surprise no one. It certainly did not surprise me. This, like the previous disqualification attempt, is another step in a continuous and overt political persecution of anyone who stands fearlessly against the occupation, its crimes, and its criminals, and in favor of democracy, justice, and true peace for the two peoples of this land." He added, "Attempts to remove voices from the public arena that fight the regime and hold a mirror to its crimes do not demonstrate the rule of law, but fear of an uncomfortable truth. Silencing mouths through the courtroom will not erase the struggle nor silence our voice, it only clarifies how biased the system is and harnessed for political settling of scores, led by Kahaneists, many of whom are serial offenders. These are the ones who continue to instill terror against Palestinians in Masafer Yatta and the entire occupied West Bank during the olive harvest season. We will continue to fight and bring light to our society and our bleeding peoples. Enough occupation, enough bloodshed, yes to peace!"