Israeli police questioned Itiel Ne'eman, the director-general of the Otzma Yehudit party, on Sunday. He was summoned to the Lahav 433 national investigations unit on suspicion of extortion by threats, assault, obstructing a police officer, and obstruction of justice. The inquiry relates to a recent violent confrontation that took place in the West Bank settlement of Mitzpe Yeriho. This marks the second high-profile questioning for the party following the incident.
The investigation focuses on the same event for which Yitzhak Kreuzer, the faction chairman and Member of Knesset, was questioned under caution approximately one month ago. During the incident, a crowd allegedly confronted police officers and blocked a patrol vehicle. The group reportedly assisted a suspect in escaping custody while officers were present at the scene.
In a statement, police confirmed that a suspect involved in the assault on a police officer in Mitzpe Yeriho was being questioned. Footage from a body camera worn by one of the officers captured the event. Investigators consider this video to be key evidence against the individuals involved in the confrontation.
The Otzma Yehudit party responded to the news by describing the move as political persecution by the Attorney General. The party stated that summoning Ne'eman crosses a significant red line. They further claimed that Kreuzer was prevented from filing a complaint with the Police Internal Investigations Department for more than a week after he suffered a broken rib. This injury reportedly occurred after he attended a memorial for a childhood friend who was killed in battle.
The party argued that the law enforcement system is targeting its management in an attempt to harm the organization. They described the action as selective enforcement, noting that cases against opposition members such as Gilad Kariv and Naama Lazimi often drag on, while investigations into Otzma Yehudit members proceed with record efficiency. The party leadership expressed frustration with what they termed a dizzying pace of legal actions against them.
According to reports from Ynet, the incident began when police were pursuing a suspect from a previous attack through the streets of Mitzpe Yeriho. The suspect fled into an area where local residents were holding a memorial service. The crowd gathered at the scene included both Kreuzer and Ne'eman. The group physically blocked the officers' patrol car, preventing them from continuing the chase.
Haaretz reported that Kreuzer led the crowd in demanding that police abandon the pursuit. The group also requested the return of cell phones that had been seized from the suspect's vehicle. The situation quickly escalated as onlookers shouted at the officers, with some reportedly calling them Nazis. The verbal confrontation turned physical, resulting in injuries to the police team.
One officer sustained a broken nose, while another broke his hand during the scuffle. The patrol car was also damaged, with reports indicating that a knife was used to scratch or cut the vehicle. The presence of senior political figures at the scene added to the complexity of the situation. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is also the chairman of Otzma Yehudit, arrived during the altercation.
Ben-Gvir’s role in the incident has been a point of contention. A police officer told Ynet and Haaretz that Ben-Gvir sided with the crowd and accused the police of using excessive force. However, Ben-Gvir has denied this account. He stated that he arrived to attend the memorial service and remained on the sidelines of the confrontation. The differing accounts highlight the tension between the political leaders and the law enforcement agencies involved in the case.
