Woman indicted for hitting Dichter with flag at anti-overhaul protest in March

A woman was indicted Monday for hitting Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter with a flag on what appeared to be a thin wooden pole during a protest against the government’s judicial overhaul plans in March, while a man was charged for biting one of the minister’s guards.

According to the indictment, Efrat Marmor struck Dichter with the pole, then his car, at protests outside an event attended by the minister at the Airport City business park.

The minister was not hurt and continued to walk to his car.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for authorities to take stronger action against violent protesters at the time.

“I strongly condemn the attack on Minister Dichter by a left-wing activist and demand that the leaders of the opposition immediately stop the anarchy, violence, and incitement against elected officials,” Netanyahu tweeted.

“I demand that the police and the prosecutor’s office take immediate and firm action against anyone who lays hands on elected officials, before it is too late,” he said.

מפגינת שמאל מכה את השר דיכטר בראשו עם דגל ישראל.
לפיד בתגובה: החזרנו את הדגל
ציון נאנוס: מחאה מרגשת pic.twitter.com/wheHEKsFHD

— ינון מגל (@YinonMagal) March 23, 2023

Roey Danieli, another protester at the event, was also indicted Monday for biting one of Dichter’s security escorts on the hand.

According to the indictment, Danieli kicked Dichter’s car, then got into a physical confrontation with the guard as he attempted to flee the scene.

Ministers have urged Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and other law enforcement officials to crack down on disorderly protesters. In response, her office on Sunday filed a professional opinion that warned against trying to set any quotas for arrests or criminal prosecution of protesters.

The incidents occurred during mass nationwide protests on March 23, dubbed the “Day of Paralysis,” which took place days before Netanyahu froze overhaul legislation for compromise talks with the opposition at the president’s residence.

Compromise talks collapsed last month, and the government renewed its legislative push, prioritizing legislation that will bar courts from using the judicial test of reasonableness to gauge government decisions.

The revived overhaul has reenergized opposition against the government, with nationwide protests held Tuesday against the proposals.

Critics say the legislation is part of the government’s attempt to shield itself and its decisions from judicial review, enabling it to appoint unqualified or corrupt officials and oust technocrats it has deemed disloyal. Supporters of the move say it is necessary to correct the overreaching of unelected judges interfering with the decisions of a democratically elected government.