A 22-year-old British activist, Finn Joughin, is facing deportation from Israel after alleging he was kidnapped by Israeli settlers and assaulted in the southern West Bank village of Umm al-Khair over the weekend. Joughin was taken into police custody following the alleged incident and subsequently ordered to be deported.
According to his lawyer, Inbar Shaked Vardi, Joughin was engaged in a "protective presence" tactic, which aims to deter settler violence against Palestinians. The lawyer stated that children from Israeli settler families entered a sports center in the village and attempted to breach fences erected for Palestinian protection. Joughin reportedly held onto a fence to prevent the breach, at which point settlers began shouting accusations at him in Hebrew.
Joughin's lawyer further alleged that settlers falsely accused him of sexually harassing one of the children. Armed settlers then reportedly took Joughin by force to the Carmel settlement, placing him in a headlock, tying his hands behind his back, and forcing him to sit on the floor for approximately 30 minutes while they filmed videos, which were later posted online. His lawyer described this act as a violation of his right to privacy and good name.
Following the alleged kidnapping, Israeli police were called to the settlement. Joughin was arrested by officers who reportedly interrogated him solely on suspicion of assault. He was awaiting a hearing at Jerusalem Magistrates' Court on August 30, after which he was to be transferred to Israel's immigration authority and then to Ben Gurion Airport for deportation.
Israeli authorities made the decision to deport Joughin after a pre-deportation hearing held on August 30. His flight back to the UK was scheduled for midday GMT on August 31.
In a statement, the Israeli police confirmed the arrest of a "foreign national who disturbed public order" near the Carmel settlement. The statement also noted that a complaint had been filed against him on suspicion of assaulting a minor and other offenses. The police indicated that sufficient evidence had been gathered, and the case materials were transferred to the Population and Immigration Authority for a decision regarding his removal from Israel.