Deputy security chief held over Jericho standoff
Police in the Judea and Samaria District detained a civilian official after video showed him aiming a weapon at settlers following a recent housing move-in.
By Petra Murphy ·
A deputy security coordinator for the Na'aran community was detained for questioning after video footage captured him pointing a firearm at Israeli settlers near Jericho. The incident took place on Thursday, just one day after Jewish families moved into eight homes in the area. Police opened a case at the Jordan Valley station on suspicion of unlawful weapon use. The suspect was released after questioning under restrictive conditions.
The housing operation was led by the Nahala settler movement in partnership with the Binyamin Regional Council. The group stated that the families purchased the eight properties at full market value. The move had been kept covert until the residents arrived on Wednesday. This timeline places the security standoff directly in the immediate aftermath of the new residents' arrival.
Police received two distinct reports regarding the events of Thursday. The first account described the deputy coordinator aiming his weapon at settlers and local security personnel. A second report alleged that shots were fired at the scene. Investigators are currently verifying whether gunfire occurred and what triggered the pointing of the weapon. No final determination has been made on these specifics as of now.
Sources close to the detained official provided context for his presence in Jericho. They told Walla that he did not go to the site voluntarily. Instead, he was dispatched with a rapid response team after a report of rioters emerged. The claim is that he acted on orders rather than on his own initiative.
The Israel Defense Forces clarified the official's status at the time of the incident. An IDF source stated that the coordinator was not acting in the course of his duties. An official statement from the IDF Spokesperson's Unit added that the suspect did not arrive in the area on behalf of the military. He is a civilian serving in a security role for a different community and held no authority in the Jericho zone.
The investigation remains active. Officers are examining the circumstances of the weapon use and the alleged firing of shots. The case is being handled by the Judea and Samaria District police. The suspect's release was conditional, and the probe into the specific triggers of the standoff continues.
