Shin Bet Jewish Department head suspends himself after offensive remarks against settlers

After recordings in which he confessed to the arrest of settlers, whom he calls "shmucks," even without evidence, A., the head of the Jewish division of the Shin Bet, announced today (Sunday) that he is suspending himself from his position.

In a statement to ISA employees, he claimed: "The division and I operate only according to the law and under a clear set of values. I deeply regret the style of what was said, which does not characterize the way I conduct myself vis-à-vis the many other parties with whom we are cooperating."

A. denied the allegations that the department was working illegally: "I failed in my language in a manner that is inconsistent with the values of service and values, and therefore, in order to enable a thorough examination and out of my personal duty, I am suspending myself from my position as head of the division until the conclusion of the comprehensive investigation into the matter."

At the same time, Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar contacted the chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee and invited the Intelligence and Secret Services Subcommittee to visit the Jewish Division in order to present its activities and the existing control mechanisms for its activities. Bar emphasized that all the actions in the various arenas for which the organization is responsible are carried out in accordance with the law only.

The head of the Jewish division of the Shin Bet was recorded speaking harshly against the settlers, saying that they should be arrested even without evidence. "Look at how the Shin Bet interrogations are conducted against them – we arrest these schmucks even without evidence for a few days," he heard in a recording published on Channel 11 News last night.

The Prime Minister's Office responded by saying: "It is inconceivable that in a state of law, citizens of the state would be arrested without evidence and placed in conditions of detention in an illegal and cruel manner. Only in dark regimes does the secret service operate in this dangerous manner. In Israel, there will be no dark shadow government within the country."