Defense minister denies walking back decision to end administrative detention of settlers

Defense Minister Israel Katz says that contrary to recent reports, he has no intention of walking back his decision to put an end to the administrative detention of Israeli settlers in the West Bank.

“The policy I decided on regarding the administrative detention is in force and is fully implemented,” he writes on X.

His statement comes after i24News reported that he had clarified in a recent meeting that there would be no discrimination between Jews and Arabs in his administration of the policy and that he would adjudicate requests strictly based on security considerations.

Katz came under fire last month when he announced he would stop signing off on administrative detention orders for Israeli settlers in the West Bank, but would still keep the policy in place for Arab Israelis and thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank.