A court in Israel has released to house arrest an Israeli settler accused of fatally shooting a Palestinian activist in the occupied West Bank.
The suspect, identified as Yinon Levi, was placed under house arrest on Tuesday after a Magistrate Court in Jerusalem declined to keep him in custody.
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Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Levi faced charges of manslaughter and unlawful firearm use in connection with the killing of 31-year-old Palestinian activist and English teacher Awdah Hathaleen, who was shot dead on Monday night in the village of Umm al-Kheir, south of Hebron.
Hathaleen was well known for his activism, including helping the creators of the Oscar-winning film No Other Land, which documents Israeli settler and soldier attacks on the Palestinian community of Masafer Yatta.
Footage published by Israeli human rights group B’Tselem appears to show Levi opening fire on Hathaleen during a confrontation in the village.
Despite the visual evidence and prior sanctions imposed on Levi by both the European Union and the United States over past attacks on Palestinians, Israeli authorities released him to house arrest.
US President Trump removed the penalties against Levi and other settlers accused of extremist violence after assuming office in January.