Shin Bet Chief Threatens Resumption of Administrative Arrests for Settler Violence

The head of Israel's Shin Bet security agency, David Zini, has informed ministers that he may seek to reinstate administrative arrests for Jewish extremists in Judea and Samaria if other means fail to curb their violence against Palestinians. This warning was issued during a meeting of the political-security cabinet on October 4th. The use of administrative arrest orders against Jews was previously halted by Defense Minister Israel Katz shortly after he took office in late 2024. Zini, who became Shin Bet chief in October 2025, had reportedly resisted internal proposals to resume these arrests, believing alternative measures like electronic bracelets were sufficient.

The issue of settler violence and the appropriate response led to a heated exchange between Zini and Minister of Settlements and National Tasks Orit Struk. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar acknowledged that extremist violence against Palestinians was damaging Israel's international standing. Zini stated that condemnations from Israeli leadership were insufficient and harmful to security and settlements.

Struk countered that Zini was downplaying Palestinian attacks on shepherds and urged him to publicize those incidents. Zini retorted that Palestinians do not burn Jewish homes and accused Struk of being out of touch with reality, emphasizing the need for universal condemnation from political leadership. Struk insisted that the settlement leadership, local council heads, and rabbis had all condemned such violence, but Zini questioned where this condemnation was being voiced.

The public dispute drew criticism from Knesset Member Tali Gottlieb, who defended Struk and called for Zini's resignation, accusing him of failing to adequately condemn Arab terror and drawing a parallel to the period before the October 7th attacks.

The confrontation occurred amid a recent rise in violent incidents between Israelis and Palestinians in Judea and Samaria. On September 29th, around 100 radical settlers attacked the Palestinian village of Jalud, setting fire to homes and structures while the IDF was attempting to help a Palestinian family return to their property. Settlers also attacked IDF soldiers, injuring three border police officers. In August 2026, settlers blocked homes in the Palestinian village of Kusra, prompting intervention from US Ambassador Mike Huckabee, who labeled the settlers involved as "Israeli terrorists." These events have reportedly angered the White House and members of the US administration and Congress, raising questions about anarchy in Israel and the military's inability to prevent attacks on Palestinians. The US administration's frustration could jeopardize bipartisan support for Israel in the US, with potential for sanctions if the current Israeli government remains in place after the October 27th Knesset elections. A bill called the Stop the Settlements Act has been introduced in the US House of Representatives, with a growing number of Democrats, including mainstream figures, advocating for sanctions against Israeli government ministers and a ban on settlement goods.