Israeli Lawmaker Kroizer to Be Questioned Under Caution in Assault Probe

The Attorney General and the State Prosecutor have decided that Member of Knesset Yitzhak Kroizer will be investigated under caution on suspicion of assaulting a police officer under aggravated circumstances. The decision follows a violent incident two weeks ago in which Kroizer was involved, and during which, according to police sources, an officer was attacked and suffered a broken nose. The investigation was prompted by a report in the Haaretz newspaper detailing Kroizer's confrontation with police officers. While police sources claim Kroizer attacked an officer, breaking his nose, Kroizer presents a different account, alleging the officers assaulted him. He filed a complaint against the officers with the Police Investigations Department (PID) the previous day, explaining a delay in filing was due to the recent holiday and his party's election campaign. Initially, PID investigators reportedly declined to take Kroizer's statement despite his request, which he claimed was ordered by the Attorney General. It has now emerged that the Attorney General's office did instruct investigators not to take his statement at that stage, but this was to prevent him from giving conflicting accounts. The decision to investigate Kroizer under caution does not constitute a determination of guilt, and his claim of being assaulted by the officers will also be examined. A joint investigation team will take Kroizer's statement to address both his complaint and the allegations against him.