IDF: Settler accused of attack to be freed from house arrest, barred from West Bank

IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth says that Tal Yinon Dardik, a suspect in a shocking attack on Palestinians in March, will no longer be under house arrest but will be barred from entering any areas of the West Bank except for the community of Modiin Illit.

The order comes after a court ruling yesterday rejected Bluth’s attempt to stop Dardik from serving house arrest in his illegal outpost in the West Bank.

A statement from the IDF says that in light of the court ruling, Dardik will no longer be restricted to a specific area but will be barred from entering the rest of the West Bank and required to report to the local police station twice a day.

Amid Bluth’s attempts to restrict Dardik’s movements due to his alleged participation in a violent attack on Palestinians earlier this year, Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered officials not to renew his detention, and called on the IDF to find an alternative solution. Katz then vowed on a TV show to replace Bluth, sparking widespread outcry and leading the defense minister to attempt to backtrack from his remarks.