Settler Killer Released on House Arrest Despite Sanctions

The Case of Yinon Levi and the Killing of Awdah Hathaleen

Yinon Levi, a settler who has been sanctioned by multiple countries, was released to house arrest after being accused of shooting and killing a Palestinian activist during a confrontation near the West Bank village of Umm al Kheir. The Jerusalem Magistrate’s Court ordered Levi to remain under house arrest at a farm inside Israel, supervised by his wife and sister-in-law, until Friday. He is also banned from contacting anyone involved in the incident for 21 days.

Levi is facing charges of reckless manslaughter and unlawful use of a firearm in connection with the death of Awdah Hathaleen, a prominent Palestinian activist featured in the Oscar-winning documentary “No Other Land.” Hathaleen was fatally shot in the upper body during a confrontation on Monday. Two other Palestinians were injured in the same incident.

Hathaleen was a resident of Masafer Yatta, a series of hamlets in the South Hebron Hills that have been declared a military zone by Israel. His efforts to prevent Israeli forces from destroying their homes were highlighted in the documentary, which won Best Documentary at the Oscars in March.

The shooting occurred as pro-Palestinian activists tried to block earthworks being carried out by Levi near the Carmel settlement, which is adjacent to Umm al Kheir. According to reports, Hathaleen sent a WhatsApp message to activists in the area, informing them that Levi had attempted to sever the village’s main water pipe. He then went to the construction site with other activists to try to stop the work.

In video footage from the scene, Levi can be seen holding a handgun and firing into the air, allegedly to distance himself from the Palestinians. After the incident, videos shared by pro-Palestinian activists showed Levi speaking with army personnel and police officers while pointing to Umm al Kheir residents inside the village. Police and IDF soldiers then entered the dwelling and arrested residents, apparently based on Levi’s recommendation.

During Tuesday’s court hearing, a police representative claimed that “a large number of rioters” threw rocks at Levi and a minor operating a heavy construction vehicle. Levi owns a construction company, Il Harei Yehudah, along with his brother. This company has been contracted by the Civil Administration, a department of the Defense Ministry, to carry out demolition work against illegal Palestinian structures in the South Hebron Hills.

Levi’s T-shirt worn during the incident bore the name and logo of Il Harei Yehudah. In 2023, Levi was involved in destroying three water cisterns in the Palestinian hamlet of Susyia while carrying out work for the Civil Administration. According to his attorney, Avichai Hajbi, Il Harei Yehudah is also involved in demolition work in Gaza.

At the end of the hearing, Judge Havi Tucker noted that Levi’s claim of self-defense was supported by statements from “two objective witnesses.” Besides Levi, five Palestinian activists and two foreign nationals were arrested over the incident and remain in jail. According to the Israeli co-director of “No Other Land,” Yuval Abraham, four of the detained Palestinians are Hathaleen’s relatives.

Far-right Otzma Yehudit lawmaker Limor Son Har-Melech attended Levi’s hearing and praised him as “Israel’s hero.” She stated, “In a country that values life, those who protect their lives and the lives of their families are rewarded, not dragged into extended detention.”

Meanwhile, as Levi was released to house arrest, Israeli security forces arrived at Umm al Kheir to dismantle a mourning tent set up in memory of Hathaleen. Footage from the scene showed soldiers instructing non-residents to leave as the area was declared a closed military zone.

France condemned Hathaleen’s death as “murder” and described Israeli settler violence as “terrorism.” A foreign ministry spokesman said, “These acts of violence are acts of terrorism.” The statement urged Israeli authorities to sanction the perpetrators and protect Palestinian civilians.

The American organization J Street also issued a condemnation, calling the incident “heartbreaking and horrifying.” It criticized the Israeli government for empowering settler violence and failing to hold perpetrators accountable.

Levi is also the founder of the illegal settlement outpost Meitarim Farm in the South Hebron Hills. Civil rights groups have cited Meitarim Farm in petitions to the High Court, alleging severe harassment and violence against local Palestinian shepherding communities. The farm was established in cooperation with the Har Hebron Regional Council, a local government covering Israeli settlements in the region.

In April, the government gifted Levi an all-terrain vehicle, along with 18 other founders of illegal West Bank outposts. ATVs are frequently used by farming outposts to harass Palestinian herders and their livestock, and Levi has been filmed using one to harass shepherds in the region.

Violence in the West Bank has increased since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. According to the Palestinian Authority health ministry, more than 950 West Bank Palestinians have been killed since then. The IDF says most were gunmen or rioters involved in clashes. Since the attack, the military has arrested around 6,000 wanted Palestinians, including over 2,350 affiliated with Hamas. During the same period, 53 people, including Israeli security personnel, have been killed in terror attacks in Israel and the West Bank.