“In a reality where Jewish settlers in Judea and Samaria are exposed to serious Palestinian terror threats and unjustified international sanctions, it is not suitable for the state of Israel to take such severe measures against settlers," announces Israel's new Defense Minister Israel Katz, referring to the West Bank.
Israeli security legislation gives the country's commanders on the occupied West Bank the authority to arrest people and hold them in custody for six months at a time without trial if they are deemed to pose a security threat.
The absolute majority of people in custody are Palestinians, according to statistics kept by the human rights organization B'Tselem. Last summer, there were more than 3,300 Palestinians and around 30 others (Israelis or people with other citizenships) being held.
The detention is reviewed by an Israeli military judge every sixth month, and there is no limit to how many times it can be extended.
Beside the raging war in Gaza, violence has escalated also on the West Bank, where Palestinians have a certain degree of self-governance while Israeli settlements have continued to grow in contravention of international law.
