Israel uses ‘administrative detention’ for first time against citizen News
Israel uses ‘administrative detention’ for first time against citizen

[JURIST] The Israel Defense Ministry [official website] on Wednesday jailed an Israeli extremists for sixth months with no charges or formal trial. It is reported [Times of Israel report] that Mordechai Meyer was sent to jail in as an effort by Israel officials to stop militant Jews involvement in future violent attacks against the citizens of the country. Meyer is alleged to be involved in the deadly attacks on multiple churches in Jerusalem and on known Palestinian property. Usually reserved to Palestinians suspected of planning attacks, Meyer is the first Israeli to receive an administrative detentions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has issued a “zero tolerance” policy for Jewish terrorism and will do whatever it takes to prevent more future attacks on the State of Israel.

The Israel-Palestine conflict [HRW backgrounder] continues to be a significant international legal issue. Amnesty International (AI) on Wednesday released a report [JURIST report] that points to evidence of war crimes committed by Israel in the August 2014 retaliation for the capture of an Israeli soldier by Hamas [BBC backgrounder]. The attacks led to 135 Palestinian civilian deaths, including 75 children. In June Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said that he had presented documents [JURIST report] to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to assist in the investigation of alleged Israeli war crimes. Also in June a report released [JURIST report] by the UN Independent Commission of Inquiry on the 2014 Gaza Conflict found that both Israel and Hamas may have committed war crimes during the conflict. In May AI accused [JURIST report] Hamas forces of leading a series of abductions, torturous acts and unlawful killings against Palestinians. In April a UN independent board of inquiry announced [JURIST report] that it uncovered evidence that at least 44 Palestinians were killed by “Israeli actions” while sheltering at UN locations during the Gaza conflict.