Court releases settler accused of killing prominent West Bank activist to house arrest

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, has been released to house arrest by the Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court.

Levy is ordered to remain under house arrest at a farm inside Israel under supervision of his wife and sister-in-law until Friday. He is also banned from contacting anyone involved in Monday’s deadly incident for 21 days.

The police are seeking to charge Levy 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.

In a video from the scene, a man identified as Levi is seen waving a gun and firing in the air, allegedly in order to distance the Palestinians.

During a hearing for extending Levi’s detention in court, a police representative says “a large number of rioters” threw rocks at Levi and the driver “in order to harm them.”

Five Palestinian activists were arrested in the incident, as well as two foreign nationals volunteering with them.

At the end of the hearing, Judge Havi Tucker says that Levi’s claim of self-defense was strengthened by statements by “two objective witnesses.”

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 and stop the construction vehicle.