Israel Katz boasts of halting detention orders for settlers while permitting detention of Arabs

Defense Minister Israel Katz has publicly stated his refusal to sign administrative detention orders for Jewish settlers, asserting that their actions do not constitute terrorism. Speaking at a Likud primaries conference, Katz explained his stance, differentiating between settlers and those who act against the state's security.

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Why didn't I sign for the settlers? Because that is not terrorism. Only someone who acts against the security of the state, someone who acts to harm [the state].

Katz boasted about his decision in January 2025 to cancel all administrative detention orders against settlers in Judea and Samaria. He contrasted this with his continued signing of orders against Palestinians, stating, "I sign for cases of Palestinian terrorism - suspects brought by the Shin Bet when it isn't yet possible to put them on trial. We hold them under administrative detention orders."

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On my own initiative, as soon as I realized what was happening, I canceled all administrative detention orders against settlers in Judea and Samaria.

Under Israeli law, the defense minister holds exclusive authority to issue administrative detention orders, which permit indefinite detention without formal charges or trial. Katz claimed that "every incident of violence in Judea and Samaria was processed as terrorist activity," allowing individuals to be held and interrogated like terrorists. He stated he informed the former head of the Shin Bet that this practice would cease for settlers. While few Jews were historically held under administrative detention, and typically for shorter periods, Katz's decision maintained the practice for over 3,200 Palestinians.

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Every incident of violence in Judea and Samaria was processed as terrorist activity. Therefore, they could hold people without a trial, without charges, without evidence, and without rights - handling and interrogating them just like terrorists.