Shin Bet allegedly threatened Palestinian candidate over son’s Islamic Jihad ties during local elections

Atif Awawdeh claims Shin Bet threats over his son’s Islamic Jihad ties forced him to quit his village council seat. IDF and Shin Bet decline to comment.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 29, 2026, 9:36 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Times of Israel

Election Interference Allegations in the Hebron District

Atif Awawdeh, a prominent resident of Deir Samet, has accused the Shin Bet and the IDF of targeted intimidation to prevent his participation in the Palestinian Authority’s local governance. According to Awawdeh, the pressure began on April 23, 2026, just three days before the village council elections. He reports being taken to a military facility where a security officer, identified by the pseudonym Captain Zidan, issued a verbal directive for him to abandon his candidacy. Despite the lack of formal charges or legal orders, Awawdeh proceeded with his campaign, ultimately securing a position as deputy head of the village council through a coalition of local slates.

Past Administrative Detention and Family Connections

The scrutiny on Awawdeh appears rooted in his family history rather than specific personal criminal charges. Two and a half years ago, he was held in administrative detention for five months without a trial, a period during which he claims he was pressured to provide information on his son’s whereabouts. During that incarceration, his son, Ahmad Awawdeh, a recognized operative within the Jenin Battalion of Islamic Jihad, was killed during an IDF operation in the West Bank. Awawdeh has consistently maintained that he had no involvement in his son’s militant activities, noting that Ahmad had lived independently for years prior to his death.

Post Election Confrontation and Forced Resignation

The alleged intimidation escalated following the announcement of election results on April 27. Shortly after Awawdeh publicized his appointment as deputy council head on social media, IDF forces reportedly detained him once more. During this second encounter, Awawdeh claims the same Shin Bet coordinator explicitly told him that his status as the father of a martyr made him ineligible for public office. The officer allegedly warned that those who do not learn the easy way will learn the hard way, a statement Awawdeh interpreted as a direct threat of further imprisonment. Fearing for his liberty and family, he announced his resignation from the council immediately following his release.