Israeli Police Close Case Against Ofir Sa'ar Citing Innocence Over Threat Allegations

The Israeli Police have officially closed a 2025 investigation against Ofir Sa'ar, changing the reason for case closure from "lack of evidence" to "lack of guilt." The probe began after Sa'ar painted a hanging figure during an art workshop at Nitzan Prison, which was mistakenly interpreted as a threat against a prosecutor. A prison guard reported that Sa'ar allegedly referred to the figure as a "hanged prosecutor," prompting a chain of command investigation into possible threats. However, the guard later admitted uncertainty about the exact words and acknowledged that the assumption the figure represented Sa'ar's prosecutor was his own interpretation, not a direct statement from Sa'ar.

Further discrepancies emerged as the narrative expanded to claim the figure represented the Attorney General, a detail not present in the original report. The prison education officer relied solely on the guard's account without conducting a thorough interview with Sa'ar, who maintained the painting was purely artistic. Sa'ar's defense attorney, Anne Rossman, welcomed the police decision, emphasizing it reflects the factual and legal reality and clears Sa'ar's name. She stressed that Sa'ar never threatened any public official and that the case's closure on grounds of innocence confirms this.

Rossman also noted respect for the investigative authorities but declined to comment further due to ongoing legal proceedings involving Sa'ar. The case highlights the importance of careful interpretation in sensitive contexts, especially involving public figures, and the need for thorough investigation before drawing conclusions.