The deputy security coordinator of the community of Na'aran was detained for questioning after he was filmed last Thursday pointing his weapon at Israeli settlers in the Jericho area of the West Bank, one day after Jewish families moved into homes at the site.
Following the incident, an investigation was opened at the Jordan Valley police station in the Judea and Samaria District on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon. The suspect was questioned and released under restrictive conditions.
Walla reported that police received two separate reports following the incident. According to the first report, the deputy security coordinator pointed his weapon at settlers and security forces who were in the area.
The second report alleged that shots had also been fired at the scene. Police are examining the circumstances of the incident, and at this stage, it has not yet been determined whether shots were actually fired or what led the suspect to point his weapon.
Jewish families with Nahala settler movement buy eight homes near Jericho
The incident occurred one day after the Nahala movement announced that Jewish families had moved into eight homes in the Jericho area, in an operation it led with the backing and assistance of the Binyamin Regional Council.
According to the movement, the homes were purchased at full price as part of a covert operation that was revealed when the families moved in on Wednesday.
One of the central questions in the investigation concerns the circumstances of the deputy security coordinator's arrival at the scene. Sources close to him told Walla that he did not come to the area on his own initiative but was called in after a report of a disturbance.
"He was dispatched with the rapid response team to Jericho following a report of rioters," they said.
However, the IDF clarified that the suspect was not operating at the scene on behalf of the military. He is a civilian serving in a security role in another community and had no authority or security responsibility in the area where the incident occurred.
An IDF source clarified in a conversation with Walla that "the security coordinator was not acting in the course of his duties," while an official response from the IDF Spokesperson's Unit stated: "The suspect did not arrive in the area on behalf of the IDF."
Police confirmed to Walla that following the reports, the suspect was detained for questioning at the Jordan Valley police station and was subsequently released under restrictive conditions.
The investigation is ongoing and includes examining the circumstances in which the weapon was pointed and the additional report received regarding shots being fired at the scene.