Lawmakers who broke into IDF base during far-right riot summoned for police questioning

Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu of Otzma Yehudit, MK Nissim Vaturi of Likud, and MK Zvi Sukkot of Religious Zionism have been summoned by police for questioning for breaking into the IDF’s Sde Teiman base in southern Israel last July, Hebrew media reports.

According to Haaretz, the three were asked to appear for questioning at the Beersheba police station.

Vaturi and Eliyahu have previously said they do not plan to present themselves for questioning, while Sukkot is said to be considering his options on the matter.

“I have a very simple message for them – do not intimidate us and I will continue to come whenever and wherever necessary to protect the rights of our fighters,” Sukkot says in a video on X.

Haaretz says the questioning of the three lawmakers was approved by Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and State Prosecutor Amit Aisman.

The lawmakers were among dozens of far-right activists who rioted outside the base on July 29, 2024, after 10 IDF soldiers were detained by Military Police investigators amid allegations of severe abuse against a Palestinian terror detainee.

Five of the IDF reservists were indicted in February for severely beating and assaulting the prisoner after he was brought to the detention facility on July 5, leaving him with severe injuries, including broken ribs and an internal tear in his rectum.

In response to the investigation, Eliyahu and Vaturi both vowed not to show up for questioning and railed against the attorney general — whom the government is working to fire.