Days before election, radical rightist Baruch Marzel charged with assault of Palestinian

With less than a week before the election, it was announced on Wednesday that an indictment was filed against radical right-wing activist and Yachad party candidate Baruch Marzel more than a week ago by the Israel Police's Claims Department at the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court on charges of trespass and assault.

The charges were made in relation to an incident that took place about two years ago in Hebron.

According to the indictment, Marzel, who at the time was on his way to Sabbath prayers at the Cave of the Patriarchs, entered the yard of a Palestinian man named Issa Amru. Marzel and Amru got into a fight, during which Marzel punched Amru in the face and kicked him twice in the leg.

Amru filed a complaint with the Hebron police, and after the investigation, the case was transferred to the Claims Department with the recommendation to have Marzel stand trial. However, the case was then closed due to lack of evidence.

Following an appeal made by the organization Yesh Din -- Volunteers for Human Rights, the case was reopened, the investigation was completed and the department decided to move forward with an indictment.

Marzel responded to the charges, saying: "It's strange that a week before the election, the police are filing an indictment about an incident that took place several years ago, and are dusting off a case that had been discarded, that even [left-wing human rights organization] B'Tselem did not want to deal with and that was filed by a criminal complainant.

"The interest here is clear -- they are worried, and they are trying to harm my candidacy in any way they can. The police and the State Attorney's Office are not comfortable with the High Court's decision to allow me to run. It's amazing that they show such incompetence with anything that has to do with [Joint Arab List candidate Hanin] Zoabi and yet they pull the trigger with me.

"Despite their opposition, I will become a member of Knesset next week and I will fight the politicization of the State Attorney's Office and the police."

Marzel's attorney, Itamar Ben-Gvir, sent a letter on Wednesday to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein, claiming that the timing of the indictment reflects an attempt to influence the outcome of the election.

"Whoever decided on the timing did so under questionable circumstances and exactly prior to my client's election," he wrote.

Yesh Din issued a statement in response, saying, "The indictment is an exceptional move and we welcome it." The indictment is scheduled to be read at the end of May.

The police's Investigations and Intelligence Unit, which oversees the Claims Department, also released a statement about the situation, saying, "The indictment was filed about two weeks ago following relevant and professional considerations. Regarding the timing -- the issue will be looked into, and if necessary, lessons will be learned from it."

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