Israel Katz boasts of ending administrative detention for Jewish settlers

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced at a Likud primaries conference in Ariel that he has ended administrative detention orders for Jewish settlers in the West Bank, effective January 2025. Katz stated he does not believe settlers commit terrorism and, upon realizing the situation, canceled all such orders against them. He clarified, "Not once did I sign for them [the settlers]." Conversely, Katz confirmed he continues to sign administrative detention orders for Palestinian terrorism suspects when a trial is not yet possible. He emphasized that incidents of violence by settlers are not classified as terrorism, differentiating them from actions against state security. Under Israeli law, the defense minister holds sole authority for these orders.