Israel retains disputed detention practice for Palestinians only

The new Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on Friday announced plans to abolish so-called administrative detention without charge for Israeli settlers in the occupied West Ban – but not for Palestinians.

Palestinians are much more frequently affected by the controversial practice of Israeli authorities.

Under administrative detention, suspects are held for six months or longer, ostensibly for security reasons.

This is the case if the person is, for example, linked to a criminal offence but there is not enough evidence to bring charges.

Lawyers say detention in such cases is based on confidential information and that they therefore have little power to stop it. Other so-called preventive measures are to apply to settlers in future, but what they will entail remains unclear.

According to Palestinian and Israeli organizations, more than 3,440 Palestinian prisoners are currently in administrative detention. Israeli media report that eight Jews are also being held this way.

Katz justified exempting Jewish settlers from the measure because they are exposed to “serious Palestinian terrorist threats” in the West Bank.

He also condemned “any form of violence against Palestinians,” without specifically naming extremist settlers as the perpetrators.

Israeli activists fear that the minister’s decision could encourage such settlers to carry out attacks against Palestinians.

According to Israeli media, far-right members of the Israeli parliament praised the decision. Many politicians are in favour of expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including the annexation of Palestinian territory.

Israeli settlements are illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace in the region. The European Union and the US government recently imposed more sanctions due to the increasing settler violence.

Administrative detention does not exist in Israel. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has already considered using it to combat crime in the Arab community.