Police close case into settler attack, citing lack of evidence, even though they never interviewed victim

Israel Police have closed a case into the assault of an Israeli activist assaulted by settlers in the West Bank due to what it claims is a lack of evidence, even though officers never interviewed the victim.

Oded Yedaya, a 77-year-old photographer, was attacked by settlers while assisting Palestinians during last year’s olive harvest in the northern West Bank village of Beita.

Yedaya was struck by at least two stones hurled by settlers, with the second one knocking him unconscious. His cheekbone and jaw were also fractured in the November 7 attack in which several others were also injured.

His daughter filed a police complaint after the attack, but officers never summoned him to provide evidence.

Instead, she was recently informed that police had closed the case entirely due to purported lack of evidence, Ynet says.

Israeli authorities rarely carry out arrests of settlers, even though such attacks unfold on a near-daily basis. In the rare cases where arrests are made, indictments and convictions are even harder to come by.

The former head of the police’s West Bank division is currently under investigation for ignoring settler violence to curry favor with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Responding to Ynet’s report revealing that the case into the attack on Yedaya had been closed, the Israel Police says, “Following the violent incident and the filing of the complaint, a police investigation was opened. As of now, no suspects have been located, despite the performance of a variety of investigative actions, including intelligence operations. Consequently, the investigation has been closed on the orders of the investigating officer in charge. Should there be any intelligence or evidentiary developments, the case will be reopened accordingly.”