Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara must approve opening a criminal investigation against Joint List MKs Ahmad Tibi and Ofer Cassif, Israel Police said in a request filed to the attorney-general on Monday.
The opposition MKs were both involved in high-profile incidents with police forces last week, with videos shared on social media showing them disrupting officers.
On Friday, police forces stopped Cassif as he was driving to the South Hebron Hills to participate in a protest against a recent High Court decision to evict illegal Palestinian homes built in the area. After he was blocked from entering the area with his vehicle, Cassif was filmed clashing with the police forces while shouting "who do you think you are? I'm a member of Knesset" toward the officers.
In an interview with 103FM on Sunday, Cassif defended his actions, claiming he overheard one of the police officers saying he will "shoot Cassif" if the MK doesn't comply with police orders.
In videos that surfaced on social media on Thursday, MK Tibi was seen clashing with officers who were in east Jerusalem to arrest a Palestinian suspected of hurling a 'suspicious object' towards Israeli forces during riots in the city. In the footage, Tibi can be seen shielding the suspect from police. He eventually managed to forcefully free the Palestinian from the officer's grasp, at which point the suspect managed to escape from the scene behind the crowd which amassed behind Tibi.מצדיעה לך אדוני השוטר האמיץ!! מצדיעה לכם חיילים יקרים וגיבורים. בוז גדול לעופר כסיף חבר כנסת (ע ל ק) ממפלגת הרשימה המשותפת. כך נראה וכך מתנהג אוייב מבית.חיזקו ואימצו שוטרים וחיילים שבת שלום לעם ישראל pic.twitter.com/FXA0qd6PeU
— טלי גוטליב (@TallyGotliv) May 13, 2022
Israel Police said they "view Tibi's actions with extreme severity" and claimed he knowingly used his immunity to aid the suspect in fleeing and resisting arrest. In response, Tibi released a statement to Ynet casting doubt on Israel Police's claims that the Palestinian threw a 'suspicious object,' calling them "liars."
Otzma Yehudit MK Itamar Ben Gvir posted the footage on Twitter, calling for Israel Police and the State Attorney's Office to "take care of this."
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett addressed the incidents in a Friday afternoon tweet, stating he condemns Tibi and Cassif's "severe and inciting behavior."תראו את המחבל ותומך הטרור אחמד טיבי, מפריע לשוטרים בעת מילוי תפקידם, הודף ודוחף שוטר, ואם לא די בכך מבריח עצור ממעצר. תגידו לי אתם מה זה, אם לא סיוע לפורעים ותמיכה בטרור. משטרת ישראל הפרקליטות, לטיפולכם! pic.twitter.com/6JhU2Zj5CQ
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) May 12, 2022
The prime minister added that the two "cowardly hid behind their immunity as MKs to interfere with on-duty police officers and shamelessly attack them."
The Police Investigations Division found that there was just cause to open an investigation against the two MKs and have submitted their findings to the attorney-general.כוחות הביטחון עומדים מול הטרור ומסכנים את עצמם בשטח. כל יום, כל היום. אני גאה בהם ומגבה אותם. אני מגנה בכל תוקף ורואה במלוא החומרה את ההתנהגות החמורה ומעודדת האלימות של אחמד טיבי ועופר כסיף >>
— Naftali Bennett בנט (@naftalibennett) May 13, 2022
Cassif and Tibi are not the only Joint List MKs to make the headlines during the ongoing tense security situation. Joint List head Ayman Odeh came under fire last month during the height of Temple Mount clashes between Palestinian rioters and Israeli forces after calling for Arab-Israelis serving in Israel's security establishment to lay down their weapons and disobey orders.