Right wing extreme activists arrested
Police detain three “extreme right-wing activists” in the West Bank region. While the arrests are not yet being linked to the recent arson attack that killed Dawabsheh and his father, Israel says there will be a complete investigation with a stringent law enforcement response based on what is discovered. Spokesperson:
Following recent events in the Judea and Samaria district, the unit for nationalist criminal activity carried out during the overnight hours a few searches and arrests in various outposts in the Binyamin region. Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon signed a 6-month administrative detention order for two extreme right-wing activists, Meir Ettinger and Evyatar Slonim, in connection with their involvement in organized extremist Jewish activity.
The third individual detained is Meyer. This type of detention allows Israel to hold an individual for up to six months without being required to inform them what they are being held for or informing them about any evidence that may exist.
Detained
Ettinger is arrested due to his involvement in a right wing network. More arrests are expected to follow. Spokesman:
As Israeli investigators released their findings that a right-wing Jewish terrorist network is gaining power throughout Israel and illegal West Bank settlements, they detained Meir Ettinger, the grandson of the late Meir Kahane, but declined to charge him with the arson attack Thursday night that burned a baby to death and severely wounded his mother, father and 4-year old brother.
Ettinger smiles and jokes with onlookers as he was taken into custody.
Israel moves to legalize settlements
A committee is formed to legalize Jewish settlements in the West Bank that international law currently calls unlawful. Israel’s Justice Minister Shaked says she wants to help establish the legal status of Jewish settlers in the West Bank.
There are many areas in Judea and Samaria where the status is unregulated. The time has come to dispel the legal fog and to enable the residents of Judea and Samaria—most of them in settlements set up by generations of Israeli governments—to stop worrying about the constant threat to the very ownership of their homes.