Israel detains Jewish settler suspected of terror attacks in West Bank

A 21-year old Israeli settler suspected of terrorist activities has been incarcerated based on an administrative detention order signed by Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz.

The detainee was suspected of acts of terror, arson, vandalising, and assault of left-wing activists in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and in Israel, targeting left-wing Israelis among others.

Administrative detention allows Israeli authorities to temporarily detain a suspect without trial, based only on an executive order. This is the first such order issued against a Jewish Israeli since February 2020.

The suspect, who has been under arrest for three weeks, is defended by attorney Assaf Gonen from Honenu, an Israeli organisation providing legal aid to Jewish terror suspects.

He will remain in detention until 6 May. Allegedly lacking evidence, Israeli authorities have decided not to press charges.

The suspect lives in one of the many settlements built by Israelis over occupied Palestinian land, which are all illegal under international law.

Settlers routinely stone, beat and attack their Palestinian neighbours - sometimes leading to killings.

They often uproot Palestinian farmers' trees, vandalise their crops, and destroy their property.

According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, less than four percent of these acts of violence lead to charges being filed.

Settler violence has skyrocketed over the past months. More than 240 Palestinians were injured by police and settlers near the city of Nablus in December.

There are approximately 650,000 settlers living in 164 settlements and 116 outposts in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem.