Implementation of the 'Administrative Detention' Law for Radical Jews in Israel

According to a report on Wednesday, August 14, by the Associated Press, Israel has detained a radical Jew named Mordechai Meir for six months without charges or trial based on a new law. This detention, which follows an attack last week in the West Bank, is the first of its kind by Israel. The 'six-month administrative detention' law, which was previously only applied to Palestinian suspects, was expanded to include Israeli suspects following its approval by Netanyahu's security cabinet last week. Israeli media reported that the government issued this regulation on Sunday, August 11, three days after an attack by radical Jewish settlers on the Palestinian village of Douma in the West Bank. The throwing of a Molotov cocktail into the home of the Palestinian Dawabsha family in southern Nablus on the morning of Friday, August 9, resulted in the burning alive of the family's infant, Ali Saad Dawabsha, while the parents and another 4-year-old child were severely injured. Following this event, Moshe Ya'alon, Israel's Defense Minister, signed the first 'administrative detention' order for the arrest of radical Jews suspected of committing violence in the country on Tuesday. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, stated at the time of the approval of the 'administrative detention' for Jewish extremists that 'intolerance and extremism from any side is condemned and will not be tolerated.' According to reports on Wednesday and statements from the Israeli Defense Ministry, following the signing of this order, Mordechai Meir was detained on suspicion of being involved in the deliberate arson of Palestinian homes that occurred last week. The Israeli Defense Ministry reported that the detainee is 18 years old and has a criminal record related to arson in various churches in Israel. The 'administrative detention' period can be six months but can also be extended indefinitely. Israel claims that when a suspect is temporarily imprisoned under 'administrative detention,' security forces and police can gather sufficient evidence to present an indictment and prevent further 'crimes' by the detained suspect. Hundreds of Palestinians have been held under 'administrative detention,' sometimes for years, but until now, the arrest of 'Jewish terrorists' before 'charges being laid' has not been precedent. Henceforth, Israel will detain 'radical Jews suspected of terrorism' in response to the killing of a Palestinian child by radical settlers.