IDF Amends Age of Adulthood in West Bank from 16 to 18 [27.09.2011]

On September 27, 2011, the IDF published an amendment to the military law in the West Bank that included several changes regarding the treatment of minors in the military judicial system in the West Bank (including terrorism-related cases). [1] The main change raised the age of adulthood from 16 to 18. Other changes are related to the obligation to notify parents or legal guardians of a minor who is suspected of violating military law, and to appropriately notify a minor of his or her rights (such as the right to an attorney), taking the suspect’s age into account.

According to notification by the Office of the Military Advocate General, the amendment is part of a general improvement in the treatment of minors in the military judicial system in the West Bank. [2]

This amendment was adopted, in part, as a result of an advocacy campaign organized by several NGOs, including the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, B'Tselem, and the Concord Research Center for Integration of International Law in Israel (in the College of Management Academic Studies Law School).

1. Security Order (amendment no. 10) (Judea and Samaria) 2011 <Hebrew>
   
   
2. See notification of the IDF's Office of the MAG