Israeli MK Ofer Cassif Convicted of Assaulting Police Officer

An Israeli Magistrate's Court in Jerusalem convicted Member of Knesset Ofer Cassif on Thursday of "assaulting a police officer under aggravated circumstances." The conviction stems from an incident during a 2022 protest in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron. Cassif, representing the Hadash party, denied the Israeli narrative of the event, calling the conviction "another link in the chain of political persecution" against those who oppose the occupation. The court ruled that while Cassif's parliamentary immunity allowed him movement, it did not grant him the right to endanger others or obstruct police by driving. The judge concluded that Cassif intentionally made contact with a police officer to impede him, deeming his actions "disproportionate" and not self-defense.

The case dates back to May 2022, when Cassif arrived at Masafer Yatta to protest an Israeli Supreme Court decision allowing the eviction of Palestinian villages in the area. Israeli forces had declared the location a closed military zone. Despite his parliamentary immunity, which permitted him to enter on foot, a Border Police officer refused to let him enter in his vehicle. The indictment alleged Cassif insisted on driving through, then slowly moved his car, leading to a verbal altercation with officers. Prosecutors claimed Cassif used offensive language towards the police before his vehicle's wheel allegedly touched a police officer's legs.

A video of the incident shows the officer tapping on Cassif's car and asking him to stop, after which Cassif exited the vehicle, and the confrontation escalated. The video appears to show the officer extending his finger towards Cassif's face, and Cassif then reaching towards the officer's head. Cassif has consistently denied assaulting the officer, stating the officer pushed his hand into his face and he was merely pushing it away. He also claimed an officer threatened to shoot him and accused Israeli forces of violating his parliamentary immunity and freedom of movement.

Following the incident, Israeli police sought permission to investigate Cassif. In March 2023, Legal Advisor to the Government Gali Baharav-Miara informed Cassif's lawyer of her decision to proceed with a trial, pending a hearing. The indictment was formally filed in January 2024. At the time, Cassif accused the police and authorities of "violence and lies against democratic protesters," calling a police-released video "partial, distorted, and misrepresented." He also alleged political pressure influenced the legal advisor's decision.

Commenting on the conviction, Cassif stated it was "not surprising" and reiterated his view that it is part of a "continuous and public political persecution" of those who oppose the occupation and defend democracy. He argued that attempts to silence dissenting voices reveal fear of the truth and that using courts for political scores demonstrates the system's bias. Cassif linked the case to settler violence against Palestinians in Masafer Yatta and other West Bank areas, vowing to continue his struggle for peace. Sentencing has not yet been determined. Under Israeli law, if convicted of a crime deemed "infamous" and sentenced to over three months in prison, Cassif would automatically lose his Knesset membership.