Netanyahu reinforces West Bank settlers’ impunity following ICC arrest warrant

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Friday that West Bank settlers will no longer face administrative detention, which aroused much criticism, including in Israel. Palestinian activists and human rights defenders fear that this decision would promise a long series of favors the Netanyahu government would do for the most radical Israeli settlers. Administrative detention allows the Israeli authorities to hold suspects for months without charges or trial, and with the possibility of almost infinite renewals. While this policy has been widely applied against Palestinians in the occupied territory, eight Jewish settlers had been previously held in administrative detention. This policy aimed to sanction the most radical settlers who committed acts of violence against Palestinians, although the latter have accused the Israeli armed...