A senior political source stated that Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's move to place two suspects in the riots in Huwara minutes after the Jerusalem District Court ordered them released for lack of evidence was a result of pressure by the US and the European Union.
"What happened [in Huwara] is very serious and we also condemned the statements [by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich]. We made decisions on executive orders and they were carried out," the source said.
According to the official, the government has no intention of acceding to the demand made by 40 Knesset members to cancel the administrative detention orders: "There are those who criticize and there are those who set policy."
Last week, Lod District Court Judge Ruth Lorach ordered the detention of the minor suspect, who is 17-years-old, shortened from four months to under two months. The detention of the other suspect was also shortened to about three months.
The two suspects were among eight who were arrested following the riot in Huwara by a group of Jews who were infuriated by the murder of the Yaniv brothers by a terrorist in the village earlier that day.
Attorney Adi Keidar said in response to the court's decision: "Although the court significantly shortened the order signed by the Minister of Defense, we still believe that in this case, the detention is punitive and therefore illegal and unjustified, and we will consider appealing the decision to the Supreme Court."
Honenu Attorney Daniel Shimshilashvil, who represents the minor in the case, added: "Although, as an unusual and precedent-setting step, the district court significantly shortened the duration of the administrative detention warrant signed by the Minister of Defense, it is regrettable that such a predatory tool was used against a minor when there is not a single piece of evidence for the unfounded allegations against him in the request for the ratification of the order. He is certainly not a 'ticking bomb' case. I would expect the police and the Shin Bet to act with the same determination in the face of clear calls from anarchists to harm the lives of elected officials, but apparently in their eyes a boy with sidelocks is a much more convenient target. I have every hope that the elected government will act to cancel the scandalous order that makes law enforcement look bad."