The Jerusalem District Court has issued its verdict in the case of Member of Knesset Ofer Cassif, finding him guilty of assaulting a police officer under aggravating circumstances. The conviction comes approximately four years after the incident, which occurred during a demonstration in the South Hebron Hills in May 2022. According to the facts detailed in the indictment and the verdict, the incident began following an argument between Cassif and officers on-site, who prevented him from proceeding with his vehicle toward the demonstration area for security and public order reasons.
According to facts presented to the court, after a verbal altercation, Cassif reversed and then drove his vehicle toward a policeman standing in his path until the car hit the officer’s leg. It was further alleged that Cassif then exited the vehicle and struck the officer on the head. The Jerusalem District Attorney's Office argued that these were deliberate acts intended to obstruct a police officer in the performance of his duties. Conversely, MK Cassif argued during the trial that the collision with the vehicle was accidental and that the strike to the officer’s head was an instinctive reaction performed in self-defense.
The court examined the evidence, including visual documentation and field testimonies, and determined that Cassif's version was inconsistent with the findings. Judge Elazar Bialin emphasized in the ruling the nature of Cassif’s conduct during the incident, noting that the defendant addressed the officers with harsh and offensive language, including verbal abuse. The ruling explicitly stated that the acts attributed to the MK are not covered by the substantive immunity granted to Knesset members and that there is no basis for the self-defense claim.
Following the publication of the verdict, MK Cassif responded, claiming this is a continuation of political persecution directed against him and the political camp he represents, while criticizing the legal background of some of the parties involved in the system. This decision represents a significant milestone in the prolonged legal process initiated following the incident.