IDF's Central Command chief: Conventional solutions for hilltop youth insufficient • Israel Katz: Administrative detentions only increased hatred and violence

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a special meeting on Thursday focused on nationalist crime in the West Bank committed by Jewish settler extremists.

The discussion was divided into two main topics: Finding legal tools to combat Jewish riots in the West Bank, and identifying “educational solutions” to the issue. To this end, the directors-general of the Education and Welfare Ministries were invited.

The meeting included Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Katz, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Education Minister Yoav Kisch.

Katz: Jewish administrative detention only increased hatred, violence

During the meeting, Katz made it clear that he opposes reinstating administrative detentions for Jewish rioters in the West Bank. “As time passes, I am increasingly convinced that canceling administrative detentions was the right step,” Katz said. “The detentions only increased hatred and violence.” Despite pressure from some officials to reauthorize administrative detentions, no decision was made on the matter.

Maj.-Gen. Avi Bluth, head of the IDF's Central Command, emphasized that conventional solutions - especially educational ones - are insufficient. “These youths are not conventional,” Bluth said. “I don’t see any of them attending an educational institution that is accessible to them.”

The Education Ministry presented an NIS 80 million plan that would include educational activities brought directly to the hilltop outposts where these youths live. Proposals included sending psychologists and welfare professionals to those locations to engage with some of the perpetrators. It was also noted that not all of the rioters come from the West Bank.

Jewish settler extremist violence increases across West Bank

In recent weeks, the number of incidents in the West Bank has increased, with groups of Jews attacking Palestinians and burning vehicles and homes - while also attacking IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians. The incidents were condemned across the Israeli political spectrum, including by the prime minister.

US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, described the events as “acts of terror.”

“I believe there is an escalation. There are Israelis capable of committing acts of terror,” he told the American network NewsNation. “Most of the Israelis carrying out these actions don’t even live in the West Bank. It’s a small group of young troublemakers who come to provoke chaos.”