'POLITICAL PERSECUTION': Israeli MK Who Supported Case for Genocide in Legal Trouble
Ofer Cassif is the only Jewish member of the Arab-majority Hadash-Ta’al party
The Israel MP who was called treasonous by fellow members of the Knesset for supporting South Africa’s genocide case against Israel’s war effort in Gaza says he faces “political persecution” after an indictment was filed Monday announcing charges from an incident that occurred in May 2022, according to a report.
Ofer Cassif, a member of Israel’s (left wing) Hadash-Ta'al party, is accused of aggravated assault against a police officer in the West Bank, The Times of Israel reported. The report said he could face up to five years in prison.
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The Times of Israel reported that the incident stemmed from a protest against an evacuation of Palestinians from their homes in the South Hebron Hills. The report said the U.S.-backed IDF prevented protesters from reaching the site, but Cassif reportedly insisted that he could enter because of immunity.
The report, citing the indictment, said, Cassif got into his car and tried to continue, hitting an officer in the leg.
The report said: “The MK stopped, and after a verbal exchange between the two, the police officer poked Cassif in the face with his finger, lightly according to the indictment, and Cassif then “strongly” slapped the police officer on the side of the head, the indictment said.”
Cassif said after the charges: “The political persecution and police violence are exposed for all to see, especially in recent times, in the attacks on peaceful demonstrators and the arbitrary and illegal ban on anti-war protests. This is also what is the basis of the indictment against me - political persecution, police violence, and lies while compromising my immunity while fulfilling my duties as MK.”