Head of Shin Bet’s Jewish Division suspends himself after saying radical settler ‘shmucks’ held without evidence

The head of the Shin Bet’s Jewish Division says he has suspended himself from his role until he is investigated, after the Kan public broadcaster last night published a recording in which he said that radical settler youths were being arrested and held without evidence, and called them “shmucks.

In a message to members of the Jewish Division, the official known as Aleph says, “I deeply regret the way the things were said, which does not characterize the way I conduct myself vis-à-vis the many other bodies with whom we work in cooperation.”

The leaked recording was a conversation between the Jewish Division head and Cdr. Avishai Mualem, a senior officer in the police’s West Bank division.

Mualem is under investigation for bribery and other offenses relating to his alleged refusal to investigate Jewish nationalist crimes in the West Bank to curry favor with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, and he has also been arrested on suspicion of obstructing the investigation against him and abusing his authority.

“I completely reject the attempt to create the appearance of work that is not in accordance with the law and the values of restraint of force and dignity,” Aleph says.

“I have erred in my language in a manner that is not consistent with the values of the agency and my values, and therefore, in order to allow for a thorough investigation and out of my duty to set a personal example, I am suspending myself from my position as head of the division until the end of the comprehensive investigation into the matter,” the statement says.

In addition to an internal investigation, the Shin Bet says that the head of the agency, Ronen Bar, contacted the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and invited him to come and visit the division.