Two right-wing Jewish activists in administrative detention

Meir Ettinger and Evyatar Slonim were placed under administrative arrest Sunday on orders signed by Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon. Ettinger, the grandson of Rabbi Meir Kahane, and Slonim were detained on suspicion of “Jewish extremist activity.” This measure, hitherto applied almost exclusively to Palestinian terrorist suspects, is part of the crackdown the minister ordered against Jewish right-wing activists after the arson murders committed in the Palestinian village of Duma 10 days ago by unidentified perpetrators. Neither Ettinger nor Slonim are suspects in this crime. Their lawyers claim the detention order was issued minutes before a scheduled remand hearing before the Nazareth Magistrate’s Court, which would have released them both for lack of evidence. Ya’alon is expected to issue more administration orders, which authorize suspects’ detention without trial for up to six months, in order to curtail the freedom of movement of Jewish right-ring activists suspected of violence.