The Israel Defense Forces will further reduce the amount of time Palestinian minors may be held before they are brought before a judge, the state informed the High Court of Justice this week.

Beginning in April 2013, Palestinians aged 12 and 13 suspected of security offenses can be held for 24 hours, and another 48 hours may go by before they are brought before a judge. Minors age 14 to 16 may be held for 48 hours and then a further 96 hours before seeing a judge.

Despite the change - announced by the state in response to a petition by human rights groups -  the initial incarceration period for Palestinians remains at least twice as long as for Israeli youths.

The order was signed by GOC Central Command Nitzan Alon.

For offenses not defined as security-related, the amount of time Palestinian youth age 12 and 13 can be held without seeing a judge will be reduced from 48 to 24 hours. The pre-court-appearance arrest period for the 14-18 age group will remain 48 hours.

In 2012, the incarceration time before being brought to court was reduced to 96 hours for Palestinians between the ages of 12 and 18. That period is still in force for suspected offenders between the ages of 16 and 18.

Prior to 2012, military law permitted Palestinian minors to be held for eight days-  as opposed to the 24 hours permitted for most Israeli minors. Israeli minors 12 and 13 years old could only be held for 12 hours, though under extraordinary circumstances minors suspected of security offenses could be held for 96 hours without seeing a judge, or 48 hours for non-security related offenses.

In 2010, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Yesh Din and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel petitioned the High Court of Justice over the disparity between incarceration times for Palestinians and Israelis. The petition was then combined with a similar petition brought by the attorney representing the Palestinian Prisoners Ministry.

In April, the High Court recommended that the state reconsider the initial incarceration period for Palestinian minors, resulting in this week’s announcement to the court by the state.

Initial incarceration periods for Palestinian adults were also shortened in 2012, although they are still longer than for Israelis.

Another change due in April 2013 is the reduction of a long list of offenses defined as security-related. For example, raising a flag, failure to appear at the District Coordination and Liaison offices, and printing material with political significance will be removed from the list.