Jerusalem, 15 November, 2026 (TPS-IL) — The director-general of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit party was questioned by police on Sunday over suspected involvement in an assault on a Border Police officer during a confrontation in the Binyamin region last month.
Itiel Neiman was questioned by Lahav 433, the Israel Police’s national serious-crimes unit, after Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara authorized an investigation into suspected extortion by threats, assault, obstruction of a police officer and obstruction of justice.
The incident occurred in Mitzpe Yeriho, where police and Border Police officers arrived to evacuate an illegal structure. Investigators suspect Neiman helped instigate a confrontation between young people and officers at the scene.
Police also suspect Otzma Yehudit lawmaker Yitzhak Kroizer was involved in the confrontation and broke an officer’s nose. Kroizer has not yet been questioned, although police have requested authorization to investigate him.
The incident drew criticism of Ben-Gvir, whose ministry oversees the police. Police sources accused the minister of backing his party colleagues rather than supporting the officers involved.
Otzma Yehudit condemned Neiman’s questioning as political persecution, accusing the attorney general and law enforcement authorities of selectively targeting the party while allowing investigations involving opposition lawmakers to languish. The party also claimed Kroizer had suffered a broken rib during the incident and had been prevented from filing a complaint with the police internal investigations department.