Court refuses to extend house arrest for settler suspected of killing prominent West Bank activist

The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court refuses a police request to extend the house arrest of Yinon Levi, a sanctioned settler who allegedly shot dead a Palestinian activist on Monday during a confrontation near the West Bank village of Umm al Kheir.

The court says evidence has “weakened” suspicions that the shot fired by Levi killed the Palestinian activist.

It releases Levi on the condition that he stay away from those involved in the case.

The police are seeking to charge Levi with reckless manslaughter and unlawful use of a firearm over the killing of Awdah Hathaleen, a prominent Palestinian activist who was shot in the upper body during a confrontation on Monday. The shooting occurred as pro-Palestinian activists tried to block construction work close to Umm al Kheir being carried out by Levi and a minor driving a heavy construction vehicle.

Levi and the minor were carrying out earthworks close to the Carmel settlement, which is immediately adjacent to Umm al Kheir. According to the Peace Now organization, Hathaleen sent a WhatsApp message to activists in the area saying that Levi had tried to sever the main water pipe for the Palestinian village, and then went with other activists to try to stop the construction vehicle.

Levi is among several West Bank settlers who were placed under economic sanctions by the former administration of US President Joe Biden for perpetrating violence against Palestinians. President Donald Trump lifted the sanctions, but sanctions imposed by Canada, the UK, and the European Union remain in place.