Israeli Lawmaker Kroizer to Be Questioned Under Caution for Assaulting Police

Member of Knesset Yitzhak Kroizer of the Otzma Yehudit party is expected to be questioned under caution on suspicion of assaulting a police officer under aggravated circumstances, following a confrontation with officers in Mitzpe Yericho. The Commander of the Police Investigations and Intelligence Department, Boaz Balt, requested on Wednesday that the Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana summon Kroizer for questioning.

The incident occurred after a memorial service for four IDF soldiers killed in Lebanon, including Aviad Neiman, a childhood friend of Kroizer. According to Kroizer's account, he attempted to de-escalate the situation and assist the bereaved families. However, after identifying himself as a Knesset member to the officers, he claims they used unreasonable force, including beatings and pepper spray to his eyes.

Conversely, police sources state that Kroizer attacked an officer during the confrontation, resulting in the officer sustaining a broken nose. Following the incident, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and State Attorney Amit Isman decided that Kroizer would be investigated under caution.

Kroizer had previously gone to the Police Internal Investigations Department on Sunday to file a complaint against the officers he accused of assaulting him. He stated that after waiting for nearly four hours, he was prevented from submitting his complaint, allegedly due to instructions from above. Information suggests this delay was intended to allow a joint investigation team to obtain a single account of the event, to be used in both his complaint against the officers and the investigation against him, thereby avoiding contradictory or duplicate testimonies.

Kroizer criticized the decision, calling it a "political witch hunt" led by Baharav-Miara and Balt, and accused them of "selective enforcement." He argued that his ability to file a complaint was obstructed for hours, while the decision to summon him for questioning was expedited.