IDF Admits Failure in Coordinating Palestinian Family's Return Home

The Israeli military has admitted it failed to coordinate with security forces, including the police and Shin Bet, during an operation to return a Palestinian family to their home in the village of Jalud, near Nablus. The operation, which took place overnight between Monday and Tuesday, aimed to reinstate the Toubasi family, who had been forced to leave their home in late July due to repeated harassment by Jewish extremists. The military's failure to coordinate meant police could not position forces in Area C to prevent rioters from reaching the village.

Around 100 Jewish extremists raided Jalud, setting fire to two homes and vehicles belonging to the Toubasi family. The violence occurred in Area B, where only the IDF operates, with Border Police acting under IDF command. Israeli police lack jurisdiction in Area B, limiting their involvement to the periphery. The article stresses that preventing nationalist crime requires synchronized efforts between the IDF, police, and Shin Bet for effective prevention, arrest, and prosecution.

The influx of rioters created a loss of control, which might have been avoided with better coordination. The IDF's unusual public admission of failure echoes sentiments from senior commanders who advocate for inter-agency cooperation in combating nationalist crime. This incident follows a public dispute between the IDF and police over the discovery of alleged tunnel shafts near Qalqilya, where both sides released conflicting statements and videos.

Further tensions between the security forces have arisen from incidents in the Palestinian village of Kusra. The Jalud riots are considered particularly severe due to the ongoing harm to the Palestinian family and the IDF's inability to conduct a seemingly straightforward operation. These events create friction with the United States and put Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office on alert for potential fallout from the White House. The police are pursuing arrests of those involved, while the IDF seeks to de-escalate the situation in the West Bank, which is populated with travelers during the intermediate days of Passover.

Following the IDF's attempt to help the Toubasi family, calls spread among Jewish settlers for extremists to disrupt the operation. Palestinians reported that extremists burned two family homes and caused extensive damage. During the riots, three Border Police officers sustained minor injuries, and three Jewish suspects, including two minors aged 15 and 17, were arrested.