Joint List MK Ofer Cassif will be summoned for questioning at the National Crime Unit headquarters in Lod for allegedly assaulting a police officer after Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara approved the opening of a criminal investigation against the MK on Tuesday.
Back in May, a video went viral on social media showing Cassif hitting an officer's head in the West Bank after being stopped by the cop.
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In the incident, police forces stopped Cassif as he was driving to the South Hebron Hills to participate in a protest against a recent High Court decision to evict illegal Palestinian homes built in the area. After he was blocked from entering the area with his vehicle, Cassif was filmed clashing with the police forces while shouting "who do you think you are? I'm a member of Knesset" toward the officers.
In an interview with 103FM after the incident, Cassif defended his actions, claiming he overheard one of the police officers saying he will "shoot Cassif" if the MK doesn't comply with police orders.
(L-R) Joint List MKs Aida Touma-Sliman, Ahmad Tibi and Ofer Cassif seen at a court hearing at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem August 22, 2019 (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)"Today, we came to support the residents of Masafer Yatta who are facing the demolition of their homes and their expulsion from their land in light of the High Court ruling that denies international law," said Cassif following the incident.
"The police officers repeatedly violated my immunity during the silent procession and prevented me from moving freely. One of the policemen threatened me when he told his friends, 'If [Cassif] continues, not only will I arrest him, I'll shoot him.'"
Additionally in May, Israel Police requested that the attorney-general approve the opening of a criminal investigation against Joint List MK Ahmad Tibi.
In videos that surfaced on social media, Tibi was seen clashing with officers who were in east Jerusalem to arrest a Palestinian suspected of hurling a 'suspicious object' towards Israeli forces during riots in the city. In the footage, Tibi can be seen shielding the suspect from police. He eventually managed to forcefully free the Palestinian from the officer's grasp, at which point the suspect managed to escape from the scene behind the crowd which amassed behind Tibi.
Tal Spungin contributed to this report.
