The Israel Police is seeking to open a criminal investigation into Labor Party lawmaker Naama Lazimi after she joined anti-government protesters in blocking Tel Aviv’s Ayalon Highway and lighting a fire on the busy traffic artery, Hebrew media reported on Tuesday evening.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators calling for early elections and the release of the hostages being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night in one of the country’s largest anti-government protests since the terror group’s Oct. 7 massacre.
In video footage and photos from the protest posted to social media, Lazimi can be seen with a group of protesters illegally blocking the highway and throwing wood onto a bonfire.
ח"כ נעמה לזימי מוסיפה קיסם למדורה בדרך בגין pic.twitter.com/2Y3q4pWQWh
— Tomer Appelbaum (@tomerappelbaum) March 30, 2024
The police request has been examined by the Department of Investigations and Intelligence and will now be forwarded to Israeli Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara for consideration, according to the reports.
If Baharav-Miara OKs the indictment, Lazimi can request immunity from the Knesset, which a majority of the 120 lawmakers would have to approve following a recommendation from the House Committee.
“If protesting on behalf of the hostages is something that is investigated by the police, then get ready for interrogation rooms full to the brim with a dedicated public and with members of Knesset who have not lost their conscience,” Lazimi tweeted on Tuesday in response to the news.
In a separate statement cited by Israel’s Channel 12, the Labor Party claimed that “something very bad is happening to the Israel Police since it was hijacked by the pyromaniac and convicted criminal [National Security Minister] Itamar Ben-Gvir.”
“We stand behind MK Lazimi and all Labor members of Knesset, who regularly participate in protests against an evil and dangerous government that is leading us to destruction,” added the statement.
