Israel’s new Defense Minister, Israel Katz, issued a statement announcing the end of administrative detention orders against colonial settlers in the occupied West Bank, describing it as a “severe measure” against them.
Such arrest warrants are rare, but Katz, known for his far-right views, is the first defense minister to refuse issuing administrative detention orders for illegal settlers.
This decision has received support from far-right Israeli leaders such as Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, despite further reinforcing the perception of unequal treatment between Israelis and Palestinians under Israeli occupation.