Israel frees from custody almost all suspects in two settler attacks, puts them under house arrest
The 10 suspects were detained after the United States, Israel's closest ally, called for a crackdown on settler violence and for arrests to be made after the attack on a US journalist.
Nine out of the ten individuals arrested in connection with extremist settler attacks on a US journalist and European diplomats have been released from custody, placed under house arrest instead, according to a law firm representing the settlers. The attack on Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine, who was reporting on a Palestinian olive harvest, prompted the United States, Israel's closest ally, to demand a crackdown on settler violence and the arrest of the suspects.
France, Belgium and Poland also urged Israel, which is set to hold parliamentary elections soon, to take action against such incidents.
However, the right-wing law firm Honenu has stated that the arrests served as a mere show, designed to appease media pressure and foreign interests. Attorney Asaf Gonen from Honenu claims that the four men accused of assaulting Levine were not even suspected of the larger incident of stone-throwing, which was carried out by Palestinians.
The Israeli police confirmed that only one suspect remains in custody, stating that the investigation into the violent incidents continues. Israeli rights groups have often pointed out that such arrests are uncommon, with the majority of extremist settler attacks in the West Bank going unpunished. In cases where the media covers these attacks, several settlers are arrested and then released shortly afterward.
The attacks targeted a US journalist, French, Belgian and Polish diplomats, and a French mayor. Levine, the journalist, was hospitalized after the assault and required surgery on her finger. Such violent incidents have been on the rise during the Palestinian olive harvest season, with Yesh Din reporting 125 physical assaults on Palestinian olive harvesters over the course of 24 days since the season commenced.
These attacks frequently involve stone-throwing, physical assaults, and even shootings at Palestinians. Since the beginning of the year, Israeli settlers have reportedly killed at least 30 Palestinians, as per the Palestinian Authority.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
