Israeli court convicts lawmaker Cassif of assaulting police officer

An Israeli court on Thursday convicted Ofer Cassif, a lawmaker who supports Palestinian rights, of assaulting a police officer four years ago, prompting him to respond: “Enough with the occupation.” It was not immediately clear what consequences the conviction by the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court would have for the lawmaker from the Joint List, according to an Anadolu correspondent. According to Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the indictment said that during a demonstration held about four years ago in the southern Hebron area, Cassif sought to drive his car toward the protest site, but police officers prevented him from doing so. “Following a verbal altercation, Cassif got into his car and drove toward one of the police officers, causing the vehicle to strike the officer’s leg,” the newspaper reported, citing the indictment. “Later, the officer approached him, and Cassif got out of the car and struck the officer on the head,” it added. The prosecution said the assaults were deliberate, rejecting Cassif’s claims that hitting the officer with his vehicle was unintentional and that striking him was an act of self-defense, according to the newspaper. ‘Enough with the occupation’ Responding to the court ruling, Cassif said in a statement: “My conviction should come as no surprise to anyone, and certainly not to me personally.” He also pointed to an attempt to prevent him from running in the Knesset elections scheduled for Oct. 27. The conviction, he said, was “another link in the chain of ongoing and overt political persecution against anyone who fearlessly stands up to the occupation, its crimes and its perpetrators, while defending democracy, justice and genuine peace for both peoples in this land.” He added: “We will continue our struggle … Enough with the occupation, enough with bloodshed. Yes to peace.”