A furor arose in Israel after Kan News revealed a recording of a Shin Bet senior official saying that Jewish residents of Yehudah and Shomron are arrested “even without evidence” for several days.

In a recording, the Shin Bet officer, the head of the Jewish Department, is heard speaking with Cdr. Avishai Mualem, the Yamam commander, about several Jews who were arrested in Yehudah and Shomron.

“Put them in cells, with the mice,” says the officer, who is identified only as A.

A. adds: “We always want to detain them for interrogation as much as possible. You’ll see how they deal with Shin Bet investigations. We arrest these shmucks even without evidence for a few days.”

Mualem warns: “They’ll tear us apart for this.”

A.: “It’s under the aegis of the Shin Bet chief and Defense Minister.”

The conversation continued, during which A. referred to IDF forces as “death squads.”

Following the report, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a statement saying: “The shocking recording of the head of the Jewish Department in the Shin Bet is a real danger to democracy. In light of this serious recording, the Prime Minister will demand a thorough examination of the activities of the Jewish Department in the Shin Bet.”

“It is unacceptable that in a state governed by law, citizens of the country are arrested without evidence and placed in detention under illegal and cruel conditions. Only in dark regimes does the secret service operate in this dangerous way. There will be no dark shadow government within the state of Israel.”

Shas chairman Aryeh Deri responded: “The report published tonight about the head of the Jewish Department in the Shin Bet against settlers in Yehudah and Shomron are very serious and should concern every citizen for whom individual rights are important. It is unacceptable that in a state governed by law, citizens are placed in detention without evidence and without a legal basis. A thorough internal investigation is required in this department.”

Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich responded: “For years we have been crying out against the use of the Shin Bet’s draconian powers against the settlers in an undemocratic, unequal, and illegal manner. The recordings published tonight prove unequivocally the criminality of the Jewish Department in the Shin Bet and the hypocrisy of the Israeli judicial system that covers up its lies and approves its actions over the years.”

“The settlers of Yehudah and Shomron are not second-class citizens. The head of the Jewish Department must be fired tonight, taken for questioning, and brought to justice – just like Ronen Bar, who has caused and continues to cause immense damage to the organization, completely eroding public trust in it. The Shin Bet is a critical body for the security of Israel, but it needs a thorough cleansing and urgent rehabilitation.”

(YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)