Israel Katz boasts of halting detention orders for settlers while permitting detention of Arabs

Defense Minister Israel Katz boasted at a Likud primaries conference that he halted administrative detention orders for Jewish settlers while continuing them for Palestinians, stating he does not consider settler violence terrorism. He claimed he canceled all such orders against settlers on his own initiative, while over 3,200 Palestinians remain under administrative detention. The article notes that few Jews were ever held under this measure.

Defense Minister Israel Katz boasted at a Likud primaries conference in Ariel on Tuesday that he halted administrative detention orders for Jewish settlers while continuing them for Palestinians. Katz stated he does not consider settler violence terrorism, saying, "Why didn't I sign for the settlers? Because that is not terrorism. Only someone who acts against the security of the state." He claimed he canceled all administrative detention orders against settlers in Judea and Samaria on his own initiative. Under Israeli law, the defense minister holds sole authority to sign such orders, allowing indefinite detention without trial. Katz made the decision in January 2025, ending detention for Jews while over 3,200 Palestinians remain under administrative detention. The article notes that there were never many Jews in administrative detention, typically held for three to six months.