Police has requested Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara that a criminal investigation be opened against Joint List lawmakers Ofer Cassif (Hadash) and Ahmad Tibi (Ta’al) after the first was filmed striking a police officer during a protest against eviction of Palestinians at Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank last week.

MK Ofer Cassif surrounded by cops at the Masafer Yatta protest in the occupied West Bank on last Friday, May 13, 2022 (Photo: Zo Haderech)

Ofer Cassif is accused of assaulting a cop, while police say Ahmad Tibi assisted in the escape of a Palestinian youth who is said to have hurled a suspicious object in occupied East Jerusalem. 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,” Zo Haderech reported. He also said the police “restricted my freedom of movement and parliamentary immunity.” 

“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.'” He continued, “That same officer refused to tell me his name and blamed me for threatening to run him over. The police once again lie to cover up its own violence, failures and crimes.”

Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=30314