MK Barakeh accused of choking, slapping, cursing police
Hadash chairman does not exercise immunity, becomes defendant. Arab MK suspected of four separate counts of assault against prison service fighter, officer, policeman, and civilian. Barakeh in response: This is political persecution
Another member of Knesset will sit on the defendants' bench, but this time for violence, not corruption. An indictment was issued Wednesday in Tel Aviv Magistrates' Court against Hadash Chairman Mohammad Barakeh. The Arab member of Knesset is being slapped with offenses on four separate counts against officers on duty, insulting a civil servant, assaulting and disturbing a police officer on duty.
The indictment was issued after MK Barakeh failed to contact the Knesset House Committee, in essence foregoing his parliamentary immunity.
The first incident for which he is being charged occurred in April 2005 during a protest against the separation fence near Bilin. A fighter in the Masada Unit of the Israel Prison Services arrested a protester and, according to the indictment, was subsequently choked by Barakeh, who called to the other protesters in Arabic to "release the detainee." Barakeh allegedly clubbed the IPS fighter's hands.
A year and a half later, a demonstration against the Second Lebanon War took place next to Tel Aviv's Carmel Market, during which one of Barakeh's family members was arrested. The MK approached a police officer and screamed at him, "You are violent. You will pay for this dearly."
He then allegedly slapped the officer across the face. When the police officer asked him to get out of the street and move to the sidewalk, Barakeh allegedly yelled at him, "You are a scoundrel. You are rude. You don't know who you are dealing with."
The third count against Barakeh refers to an incident from a previous demonstration in July 2006 during which left-wing activists arrived in Rabin Square to protest.
The protest was documented by a civilian named Yitzhak Hananya. Veteran left-wing activist Uri Avneri passed in front of Hananya and shouted at him that he is ugly and unwanted at the rally. At this point, Barakeh approached the photographer, jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow and punched him, according to the indictment.
In June 2007, according to the fourth charge, a demonstration was held next to the Golden Crown Hotel in Nazareth. The police arrested Hadash Secretary General Ayman Audeh. Barakeh allegedly attempted to physically block the police from putting Audeh in their patrol car. Later, when the police asked Barakeh to help calm the crowd, Barakeh allegedly said, "Shut up, ignoramus. Go to hell."
MK Mohammad Barakeh said in response to the indictment issued against him, "This is a move that, despite being predictable, proves the attorney general's and the State Prosecutor's determination to continue their political persecution of me as a member of Knesset."
