Israel to Detain 'Jewish Extremists Suspected of Terrorism' Going Forward

The Israeli government has approved for the first time the temporary detention of Jewish extremists suspected of committing terrorist acts without an arrest warrant from judicial or police authorities or prior to the filing of an indictment. According to Israeli media, the government issued this resolution on Sunday, August 1, three days after an attack by extremist settlers on the Palestinian village of 'Duma' in the West Bank. The throwing of a Molotov cocktail into the home of the Palestinian 'Dawabsheh' family in the southern Nablus suburb on the morning of August 1 burned alive the family's infant, 'Ali Saad Dawabsheh,' while the parents and another 4-year-old child were severely injured. Previously, only Palestinians were detained under the so-called 'administrative detention' order based on suspicion and prior to the 'indictment process' by Israel. The 'administrative detention' period can last 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 for 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 detention of 'Jewish terrorists' prior to 'indictment' has not been documented. General Moshe Ya'alon, Israel's Defense Minister, has supported the implementation of 'administrative detention' for 'Jewish terrorists.' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during the approval of 'administrative detention' for Jewish terrorists, stated that 'bigotry and extremism from any side are reprehensible and will not be tolerated.' In recent days, Netanyahu visited the Palestinian family in the hospital and condemned the crime multiple times, promising Mahmoud Abbas in a phone conversation to 'combat terrorism stemming from extremist Jews and to detain and prosecute the criminals responsible for burning the Palestinian child.' However, no reports have yet emerged regarding the arrest of suspects involved in the attack in the village of 'Duma.' Isaac Herzog, the leader of the Israeli opposition, emphasized that Jews committing such crimes should be sentenced to life imprisonment and their homes should be demolished just as 'Israel destroys the homes of Palestinian militants.' An opposition delegation also met with Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, in Ramallah to express condolences to the Palestinians. Thousands of Israelis outraged by the violence of extremist Jews protested on Saturday night in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The uncle of the burned Palestinian child participated in the Israeli protests in Tel Aviv. Opponents in their placards wrote: 'Settlements are the source of violence, settlements are destroying Israel.' Reuven Rivlin, the President of Israel, personally participated in the protests against such crimes in Jerusalem, calling extremist forces a shame for Judaism and stating that 'this weed must be uprooted from society and these individuals should be imprisoned with heavy sentences.' However, some extremist Jews criticized Mr. Rivlin and posted images of him dressed in Nazi uniforms on social media. Israel Radio reports that security measures to protect the President from attacks by extremist Jews have been increased because Isaac Rabin, a former Prime Minister of Israel, was also assassinated 20 years ago by a young extremist Jew due to similar provocations. Meanwhile, Palestinian media reported that Riyad al-Maliki, the foreign minister of the Palestinian Authority, will present the case of the village of 'Duma' to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday, August 2. Ibrahim Khreisheh, the Palestinian ambassador to the European headquarters of the UN, stated that Israel is not taking real action to deter the residents of Jewish settlements from these attacks, and therefore the international community must intervene. Mr. Khreisheh said that the Netanyahu government is issuing permits for illegal construction for Jews in the occupied Palestinian territories and 'as long as he is the leader, he will not allow the formation of a Palestinian state,' and encourages the 'brutality' of settlers against Palestinians. Palestinians have stated that they will also approach the International Court of Justice. The burning of the Palestinian child has sparked a wave of angry reactions from Palestinians in Jerusalem and the West Bank, and Israel is concerned about the reaction of armed Palestinian groups; Hamas has stated that it will provide a 'specific and painful response.'