Police request criminal probe into two Israeli lawmakers

Read More

Police has requested that a criminal investigation be opened against Israeli lawmakers Ahmad Tibi and Ofer Cassif after the latter was filmed striking a police officer during a protest in the West Bank last week.

Demonstrators were protesting the eviction of Palestinian families from the Masafer Yatta region.

The police, in their request to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, accuse Cassif of assaulting a police officer, of obstructing an officer in the performance of his duties and of issuing threats. The police say the incident has been investigated and that evidence has been collected and sent to Baharav-Miara.

The incident, a video of which was posted on social media, shows Cassif striking a police officer during a demonstration against the eviction of Palestinian families from the Masafer Yatta region of the West Bank.

Cassif says an officer threatened to shoot him and said, “I did not attack an officer. This is a blatant lie. The officer pushed his hand in front of me and I deflected it.” He also said the police “restricted my freedom of movement” during the protest.

Israeli-Arab lawmaker Tibi, for his part, is accused of assisting in the escape of a Palestinian youth accused of hurling a suspicious object in East Jerusalem. In a video Tibi is seen approaching police, arguing with them and separating them from the youth, who took the opportunity to slip away.

The incident took place on Thursday near a church where the family of slain journalist Shireen Abu Akleh were gathered. Abu Akleh was killed on Wednesday during a raid by Israeli forces in the West Bank city of Jenin.

Israeli lawmaker filmed beating cop during West Bank demo

Israel, beware of abandoning the first Arab leader willing to work together

Poor Knesset decisions may unwittingly drag Israel into war

Earlier this month the Israeli High Court approved the eviction of some 1,000 Palestinians from eight villages in Masafer Yatta, after a two-decade legal dispute over land that has been repurposed by the Israeli army as a firing zone, and where Palestinians have lived for generations.

Cassif is a member of the Arab-Jewish Hadash party, which is part of the four-pronged Joint List of Arab parties. Tibi is also a member of the Joint List.