Otzma Yehudit MK Almog Cohen interrogated by Lahav 433

Otzma Yehudit MK Almog Cohen was interrogated by special investigations unit Lahav 433 following a complaint that was filed against him 11 years ago, Hebrew media reported on Thursday.

The interrogation against Cohen was under suspicion of assault, injuring another person in 2013 while he was serving as a police officer.

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi told Cohen, "Do not bow your head to those who try to terrorize you. Such a transparent attempt at silencing you seriously harms the public's trust in this system, which sometimes operates as if we are in Soviet Russia, and makes everyone realize how urgently a fundamental correction is needed here."

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said that "the directive to investigate [Cohen] regarding an incident that happened over a decade ago is serious and smells strongly of political persecution. This is the same ombudsman who, for political reasons, is trying to stick sticks in the wheels of the national project whose purpose is to allow the citizens of Israel to arm themselves and defend themselves. In any case, the attempt to threaten right-wing elected officials will not stop us from continuing to act in favor of saving the citizens of Israel."

Cohen's investigation comes shortly after an indictment against MK Cassif

Israeli Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara approved the investigation into Cohen a day after she decided to file an indictment against MK Ofer Cassif for assaulting a police officer in May 2022.

Shortly following the announcement, Cassif released a statement to the public.

"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.