Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz on Friday cancelled administrative detention orders against terrorist settlers due to the expected release of Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire agreement in Gaza and a prisoner exchange.

This came according to a statement issued by Katz today, after he had begun implementing his announced policy of not pursuing terrorist settlers by not issuing administrative detention orders against them, despite their danger. Before today’s step, the last time he issued an order to cancel an administrative detention order was on the thirteenth of last month, when he decided to release a settler three months before the end of his detention period.

Katz thus cancelled the decision of his predecessor in office, Yoav Galant, regarding settler Itiel Ben Tzruya, who was issued an administrative detention order for six months, according to Israeli media.

The statement issued by Katz today stated that the Israeli Minister of Security "decided to cancel the administrative detention orders against settlers in Judea and Samaria (the occupied West Bank) who are currently in administrative detention."

He stressed that the decision includes "their immediate release to their homes, and not even thinking about extending the detention period."

"It is better for the families of the settlers; to be happier than the families of the released (Palestinian prisoners)," Katz said in a direct embrace of the settlement mentality.

Katz stated that "in light of the expected release of (Palestinian prisoners) in Judea and Samaria as part of the hostage release deal, I have decided to release the settlers held in administrative detention, and to send a clear message of strengthening and encouraging settlement, which is witnessing rapid growth in the West Bank," considering that this comes "in the face of the increasing security challenges."

The administrative detention order against Ben Tzruya was issued following his participation with other terrorist settlers in burning Palestinian property in the village of Yatma and attacks in the village of Jit.

Until that time, there were seven terrorist settlers in administrative detention, while there were 3,443 Palestinian administrative detainees in the occupation prisons.

In November, Katz announced that he had decided to stop issuing administrative detention orders against terrorist settlers and to continue the policy of administrative detention against Palestinians. It is worth noting that administrative detention orders against settlers are issued based on the recommendation of the Israeli General Security Service (Shabak) based on information about their terrorist attacks, while these orders, which are issued against thousands of Palestinians, are not based on information that can be presented as evidence in court.

Israeli legal experts have criticized Katz's decision to stop issuing administrative detention orders against settlers in the West Bank while continuing to apply them to Palestinians on both sides of the Green Line.

Experts stressed that Katz's decision is illegal and violates basic principles of international and administrative law, making it subject to cancellation by the Israeli Supreme Court, and may open the door to more international arrest warrants against political and security officials in Israel, including Katz himself.

Israeli media quoted judicial officials as saying that "Katz's decision gives a 'license to kill' to the hilltop youth, and ties the hands of the Shin Bet in dealing with conspiratorial Jewish groups in the (occupied) territories. The decision is likely to push secret organizations to attack Arabs and ignite the region."