A major Shin Bet achievement

None among the Israeli public were surprised Thursday, when a gag order placed on a "sensitive security case" was partially lifted, only to reveal "a significant development" in the investigation into the gruesome July 31 arson of the Dawabsha family home in the Palestinian village of Duma.

In the attack, believed to have been perpetrated by Jewish extremists, an 18-month-old boy was killed, and his parents later succumbed to their injuries as well. His 4-year-old brother was the sole survivor; he remains hospitalized.

Even before the partial lift of the gag order, media innuendos and social media had already made it clear that arrests had been made, and while the gag order is still keeping the number of suspects and their identity under wraps, it is highly unlikely that anyone in the Shin Bet security agency was surprised to learn who the suspected perpetrators were. Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon had hinted on several occasions that the defense establishment was well aware of the perpetrators' identity, and that it was only insufficient evidence that prevented their immediate arrest.

Those statements alone were enough to conclude that those involved were hard-core far-right activists, who justify the use of violence to undermine the State of Israel in favor of creating a halachic state, where only Jews are allowed to live.

The raids and arrests carried out over the past few days were most likely the last steps in the investigation, undertaken only after sufficient evidence had been secured. While Shin Bet officials have stressed the investigation was ongoing, it is unlikely anyone in the security agency would risk getting Israeli and Palestinian officials' hopes up unless they were convinced a conviction could be guaranteed.

The suspects' defense attorneys seem aware of this fact as well, and while it is still unclear exactly what charges their clients will face, the lawyers have already begun trying to undermine the validity of the search, seizure and arrest procedures exercised as part of the investigation.

The main line of defense will most likely be the claim that the evidence was illegally obtained, but regardless of the nature of the suspicions, the lawyers have one thing right -- law enforcement and the judiciary must ensure the suspects' right to due process.

The investigation may still be ongoing, but the Shin Bet can already note a significant achievement: The intense work done over the last few months -- the sweeps, administrative arrests and injunctions -- has all but stopped the wave of Jewish terrorism in its tracks. It does, however, remains to the seen whether the effect of this achievement are long- or short-lived.

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