Israel in crackdown on extremists

Israel has intensified its crackdown on Jewish extremists, jailing two high-profile ultra-nationalist Israelis for six months without charge and arresting additional suspects in West Bank settlement outposts.

The crackdown comes after a deadly July 31 firebomb attack on a Palestinian home in the West Bank that killed an 18-month-old boy and severely wounded his parents and brother. The boy’s father died on Saturday.

Authorities called the arson attack an act of “Jewish terrorism,” and Israel’s Security Cabinet approved the use of harsh measures to combat the trend, including administrative detention, which allows suspects to be held for lengthy periods without charge.

The measure has been mainly used against Palestinians suspected of involvement in militant groups, and rarely against Israelis.

Israeli human rights activists who advocate on behalf of Palestinians criticised the use of administrative detention.