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.
Arrested
Israel’s Shin Bet security agency says it is interrogating Ettinger, the suspected head of a Jewish extremist group. The agency would not say if he is also suspected in the arson attack, but it accuses Ettinger of heading an extremist movement seeking to bring about religious ‘redemption’ through attacks on Christian sites and Palestinian homes. Ettinger denies leading an extremist movement. His lawyer says that authorities arrested his client to appease an Israeli public outraged by the arson attack.
There was no urgent need to arrest here, other than some kind of desire to show, Here, we’re doing something, here, we’re arresting. Of course, what is better than the number one most wanted target?