The Ombudsman recalled: MK Kassif will be questioned in Lahav 433 for attacking a police officer at a demonstration

August 2, 2022   

The Legal Advisor to the Government, Attorney Gali Barhav-Miara, approved today (Tuesday) the summoning of MK Ofer Kassif from the Joint List for questioning in Lahav 433, for assaulting a police officer. Promoting gender equality in employment? You could get a grant! • Here are all the details The decision comes after Kassif was filmed hitting a police officer in the head at a demonstration. In the video, the police officer is heard telling Kassif: "You move your car and you won't get in my way." Kassif shouted at him: "Don't touch me at all." Kassif then hit the police officer in the head. The two got close and clashed. The police officer was furious: "Last time you're clinging to me." Kassif shouted: "I'm allowed to get in here with the car." Shai Glick, CEO of the Israeli Ombudsman who filed the complaint: "I'm happy with the decision of the Attorney General. At the same time, it is unfortunate that this took many months and only after a complaint was filed with the Commission against her. I call on her today to approve an investigation against Odeh and Tibi, who also incited and harmed her, and to monitor and ensure that the investigations are completed and indictments are filed before the elections." Kassif's lawyer, Attorney Daniel Halaki, responded: "It is regrettable to discover that MK Kassif will be summoned for police questioning through a media advertisement and not through the proper legal and humane method: his personal and official summons. So far, MK Kassif has not received any official summons from the Israel Police. MK Kassif noted after the incident, and we reiterate, that one of the police officers at the scene threatened to shoot him and that the complaining police officer approached him and even touched him in a threatening manner." He said, "The matter will be provided in detail to the Israel Police investigators if and when MK Kassif is summoned for questioning, while MK Kassif will also present to his investigators a video documenting the matters detailed above. Kassif arrived at the scene to stand by the most vulnerable, since it was decided to evict them from their homes. Of course, he did not arrive at the scene to fight with a police officer or anyone else.".