Extreme right-wing activist Meir Ettinger, who has been in custody for almost 10 months under an administrative detention order signed by Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, is expected to be released on June 1. On Tuesday, a representative of the state prosecutor announced in the Central District Court that Ya'alon did not intend to extend Ettinger's detention. Ettinger is the grandson of Rabbi Meir Kahane, a well-known extremist figure assassinated in 1990. Ettinger is considered a top priority for the unit of the Shin Bet security agency that deals with Jewish terrorism and extremist activity. Ettinger was arrested in August 2015, shortly after the Dawabsheh family was killed in an arson attack on their home in the village of Duma and after an arson attack on the Church of Loaves and Fishes near the Sea of Galilee. The arrest was one of a series of steps the security establishment took against right-wing activists suspected of terrorism against Palestinians and Israeli Christians. The authorities believe Ettinger stood at the head of a Jewish terrorist network that sought to attack Muslim and Christian holy sites as a way of destabilizing the government, but could not collect sufficient evidence to indict and try him. Ettinger was placed under administrative detention, custody without a trial. In February, Ya'alon extended the order for his detention by four months. Attorney Yuval Zemer, who is representing Ettinger on behalf of the Honenu National Legal Defense Organization, said after Tuesday's court discussion: "It's sad to find that in Israel in 2016, a person can be detained for 10 months simply because of his political opinions."
Right-wing extremist to be released from detention
Meir Ettinger, grandson of assassinated extremist rabbi Meir Kahane, has been in custody for almost 10 months following arson attacks against Palestinian, Christian sites • Prosecution tells court it does not intend to ask for extension of his detention.
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