Israel may lock up Jews who threaten disengagement

Israel may use administrative detention measures to neutralise threats from Israeli militants bent on disrupting its planned disengagement from occupied territory, Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said on Saturday.

Mofaz said in a television interview that following last week’s killing of four Israeli Arabs by an ultra-rightist Jew, he would consider detention without trial for any individual whom security services recommended should be put behind bars. “We will consider … administrative detention of all those proposed by the Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security service),” Mofaz said.

Israel’s “disengagement” plan is set to begin removing 9,000 settlers from Gaza and a corner of the West Bank later this month, withdrawing from land Palestinians want for a state.

The government has accused some ultranationalists of trying to incite violence ahead of the plan, which Washington hopes will restart peace talks on a U.S.-led “roadmap” for a Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel.

Mofaz said he could not put an exact figure on the number of people who could be locked up. Administrative detention is a measure commonly used against Palestinians but very rarely used against Israeli Jews.

“Israel is facing one of its most difficult moments, an historic moment but to my mind this is a real test for the rule of law, and goes even beyond the
success of the disengagement plan,” Mofaz said.

Eden Nathan Zaada, who deserted last month because he objected to Israel’s planned pullout from Gaza, shot dead two Muslim sisters and two Christian men on a bus on Thursday before being beaten to death by residents.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has condemned Zaada as a “bloodthirsty terrorist”.

Deputy Premier Shimon Peres also said Jewish militants suspected of planning violence should be jailed without trial to prevent more bloodshed after the killings in the Israeli Arab town of Shfaram.

“We must restrict the movement of potential Jewish terrorists, we should make sure they cannot carry a rifle, a pistol or a knife,” Peres told reporters after paying a condolence visit in Shfaram on Saturday.

ARMY INVESTIGATION
The army also said it was looking at tightening up its rules following questions as to why Zaada was not pursued and his weapon confiscated after he deserted, and on whether warning signs could have been picked up when he was recruited.

Though all Israeli Jews are eligible for conscription, the army runs physical and mental checks to ensure fitness for duty. Zaada had lived in a West Bank settlement known for its militancy.

Both Gaza and the West Bank were captured by Israel in 1967. Israeli rightists view them as a biblical birthright.

“In the coming days we will demand an in-depth examination as to whether we should not do more to prevent the reasonable danger of an ideological crime by someone using an army uniform and weapon,” said Major-General Yiftah Ron-Tal.

Ron-Tal, the head of the Israeli army’s ground forces, also said he had named a senior officer to investigate the circumstances of the soldier’s recruitment and tour of duty.

Asked whether other soldiers in Israel’s army could repeat Zaada’s act, Ron-Tal replied: “I must say I do fear this.” Along with soldiers, Jewish settlers also have army-issue guns. Israel has said it would confiscate these before the pullout, but no mass weapons collection has yet begun.

In Shfaram, where the four people shot dead were buried on Friday, Israeli Arabs said the killings had heightened fears they would bear the brunt of ultra-rightist anger over the pullout, even though Arab citizens have generally avoided armed conflict with Israel.

Israel’s Arabs, who number about 1.2 million, make up about a fifth of Israel’s population and generally sympathise with the Palestinian revolt in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.