Israeli DM orders administrative detention for Jewish extremists

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has ordered administrative detention against Jewish suspects of a terror attack in which a Palestinian baby was killed and family members critically injured once they are captured, a ministry spokesperson confirmed to Xinhua on Sunday.

Administrative detention is a tool used by the defense establishment to lock up suspected militants, used mostly against Palestinians, in which suspects are incarcerated without being brought to trial.

A security official was quoted on Sunday by Israel Radio as saying that dealing with Jewish terrorism necessitated the same tools used as when dealing with Palestinian terror suspects.

He also added that Israeli security forces had yet to apprehend the suspects, believed to be Jewish extremists, who were careful not to leave traces behind them and did not carry cell phones, as those could help police locate them.

Israeli officials, including Ya'alon and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, condemned the attack last week, calling it a "heinous" and "serious terror attack," with Ya'alon adding that Israel will "chase down the murderers until they are caught."

In the wake of this attack, as well as a stabbing attack occurring the evening before at the gay pride parade in Jerusalem by an ultra-Orthodox Jew, thousands of Israelis took part in rallies across the country protesting the incitement and violence they say fueled the attacks.

Authorities believe the attack on the Palestinian home was a "price tag" attack, referring to attacks carried out by far-right Jews, usually in retribution of moves curbing the expansion of Jewish settlement, including vandalism and torching of Palestinian property as well as holy sites to Muslims and Christians.

A senior IDF officer was quoted by Ynet as saying that "the army is looking at 141 incidents in the first half of 2015, including violence against Palestinians and vandalism, or violence against security forces, compared to 328 throughout 2014, and 420 in 2013."

The officer said however, the severity of the incidents increased and some went beyond the West Bank and spread across the country.

Although Israeli officials claimed they would crack down on price tag perpetrators, according to the Israeli Human Rights group Yesh Din, 85 percent of the cases' investigation is closed due to lack of sufficient evidence and failure to locate suspects. Endit