Man arrested on suspicion of attacking Likud MK who fell in crowd of protesters

Police say they have arrested a resident of Ramat Gan on suspicion of attacking Likud MK Eli Dallal yesterday at an anti-government protest during a Rosh Hashanah toast put on by the ruling party.

The suspect, a man in his 40s, was arrested while driving on Route 4 after being identified in footage from yesterday evening, said to show him “attacking” the 70-year-old lawmaker.

Footage from the scene shows Dallal making his way through a crowd of protesters at a mall in Kfar Saba, many of whom are shouting and blaring horns, when he suddenly falls to the ground.

One protester, dressed in a thobe in apparent reference to the Qatargate scandal, throws mock dollar bills at the MK as he is escorted out of the crowd by police officers.

Protesters have denied they touched the lawmaker; however, Dallal himself said he felt as though he was “being lynched” by the crowd.

The display drew widespread condemnation from Likud lawmakers and other Netanyahu allies. The premier himself decried “wild incitement” against members of the ruling coalition.

Police stress that there was no “break-in” at yesterday evening’s event and note that protesters gathered solely in the mall’s entrance and lobby.