Israeli Lawmakers to Be Investigated for Assaulting Police Officer

The Attorney General and the State Attorney have decided that Member of Knesset Yitzhak Kroizer of the Otzma Yehudit party will be investigated under caution on suspicion of assaulting a police officer under aggravated circumstances. The decision follows an incident approximately two weeks ago in Mitzpe Jericho, during which Kroizer clashed with police officers. According to the police, Kroizer assaulted an officer during the confrontation, resulting in the officer sustaining a broken nose. Kroizer, however, claims that the police used violence against him.

Following the incident's public disclosure, Kroizer approached the Police Investigations Department to file a complaint against the officers. He stated that he delayed filing the complaint for 11 days due to the holiday period and the demands of his party's election campaign. However, the Police Investigations Department has not yet taken his statement. Kroizer asserted that the decision to delay was made under instructions from the Attorney General, to avoid collecting duplicate or contradictory testimonies from him regarding the same event.

Under the agreed-upon arrangement, Kroizer's statement will be taken once by a joint investigation team, which will examine both his complaint against the officers and the officers' complaint against him. Police believe that the gathered investigation materials indicate Kroizer's involvement in the incident and had anticipated seeking approval to question him under caution. Initial suspects involved in the incident have also been questioned.

Kroizer criticized the Police Investigations Department and the Attorney General for not taking his complaint. He wrote on his X account, "What are you afraid of, Police Investigations Department and Attorney General?" He stated he went to file a complaint about the alleged violence against him during a memorial for four fallen IDF soldiers, but after nearly four hours of waiting, his complaint was not taken. "I will not allow anyone to cover up the incident, silence the affair, or prevent the truth from being revealed," Kroizer declared. "I demand that my complaint be received and investigated immediately, that the truth come to light, and that all those responsible be held accountable. The law is not a recommendation, certainly not for those entrusted with its enforcement."