U.S. warns Israel against dropping detention of settlers in occupied West Bank
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A view of a Palestinian car after it was set on fire by settlers during a settler attack on the town of Beit Furik, east of Nablus in the occupied West Bank. Photo: Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The Biden administration warned Israel that their decision to stop issuing administrative detention orders against Israeli settlers suspected of attacking Palestinians in the occupied West Bank could increase violence in the Palestinian territory, two U.S. officials told Axios.
Why it matters: Israeli security forces mostly use administrative detention against Palestinians, but the measure is also used to counter Jewish terrorism against Palestinians.
- U.S. officials said Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin pushed the Biden administration's message in a call with his counterpart Israel Katz on Saturday and expressed deep concern about the decision.
- Katz told Austin his decision to stop issuing administrative arrest orders against settlers was "an internal step taken out of a commitment to democratic principles" and said the use of such orders against citizens is not allowed in any democracy in the world, including the U.S.," the Israeli Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
- Katz added that "Israel firmly opposes violence of any kind against Palestinians, and will act against it through the [Israel Defense Forces], law enforcement authorities and public norms — and not through undemocratic procedures."
- The Pentagon declined to comment.
Driving the news: The Shin Bet security agency has been using administrative detention in order not to expose its sensitive intelligence sources inside extremist Jewish settler groups.
- Katz said on Friday that he met with Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and told him that he had decided to stop the use of administrative detention orders against Jewish settlers in the West Bank and asked him to put alternative measures in place.
- The Israeli Minister of Defense said his decision was made due to "serious Palestinian terror threats and unjustified international sanctions taken against the settlers."
- The Biden administration has sanctioned several Jewish settlers and associated organizations this year.
Behind the scenes: Two U.S. officials said Katz's decision greatly increases tensions between the Biden administration and Israel.
- However, they acknowledge that with President Trump taking office in less than two months, there is little the outgoing administration can do other than express protest in private and in public.
- One U.S. official said Katz's decision to stop using administrative detention orders against violent settlers is "deeply misguided."
- The official added that administrative detention was the only thing that allowed the Biden administration to claim Israel was doing something to prevent settler violence. "Now we can't do that anymore," the U.S. official said.
What they're saying: Two U.S. officials said the Biden administration expects Israel to enforce the law equally against Jews and Palestinians in the West Bank.
- They said the U.S. expects that administrative detention orders will not be used against Palestinians in the West Bank and that all terror suspects — both Jews and Palestinians — will be arrested and prosecuted according to the same standards.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a statement from the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
