Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court convicted far-left Knesset member Ofer Cassif on Thursday of aggravated assault on a police officer, stemming from an incident that occurred roughly four years ago during a protest in the southern Hebron Hills. The court accepted the position of the Jerusalem District Prosecutor’s Office, which argued that Cassif struck the officer with his vehicle and later hit him in the head.
According to the indictment, the self-identified Marxist MK attempted to drive his vehicle into the area where the protest was taking place, but officers stationed at the scene prevented him from advancing due to concerns for the safety of protesters and because the road led to Area A.
The decision sparked an argument between Cassif and the officers. When it ended, the lawmaker got into his vehicle, reversed several meters, then drove forward toward one of the officers standing in front of the car until he struck the officer’s leg. Later, when the officer approached him, Cassif exited the vehicle and struck the officer in the head with his hand.
During the trial, the Jerusalem District Prosecutor’s Office argued that both strikes were intentional and carried out to obstruct the officer in performing his duties. Cassif, meanwhile, claimed the vehicle strike was accidental and that hitting the officer’s head was an instinctive response made in self-defense.
סוף כל סוף : ח”כ עופר כסיף הורשע בביהמ”ש בתקיפת שוטר בנסיבות מחמירות. לאחר 4 שנים אחרי התקרית.
תזכורת לאירוע התקיפה – בסרטון: https://t.co/FEATL9rweo
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Prosecutors rejected the claims, stating they were inconsistent with video documentation of the incident and the evidence collected. They further argued that Cassif’s actions were not covered by self-defense or by the substantive immunity granted to him as a member of Knesset.
In its verdict, the court accepted the prosecution’s position and convicted Cassif of aggravated assault on a police officer.