Israel's Defense Minister Warns Judges Against Interfering in Security Matters

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the IDF will maintain a permanent presence in the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur al-Shams in the West Bank, preventing approximately 40,000 displaced residents from returning to their homes. Katz stated that a shift in operational strategy in Judea and Samaria has led to the elimination of terrorists, the destruction of terror infrastructure, and the interception of about 80% of terrorist activity in the region. He urged the High Court of Justice (Bagatz) to refrain from intervening in operational considerations that impact national security, indicating a determination to pursue special legislation in the Knesset if necessary to prevent such interference.

Katz explained that upon assuming his role, he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu developed a new security concept for Judea and Samaria. This led to directives for the IDF to alter its approach to repeated entries into the Jenin refugee camp and to take control of the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur al-Shams camps, which he described as hotbeds for Iranian-backed jihadist terror groups responsible for attacks across the West Bank and Israel. According to the Defense Minister, all 40,000 residents of these camps were evacuated, terrorists were neutralized, and terror infrastructure, including homes and booby-trapped streets, was destroyed. The IDF has now established a permanent presence within the camps.

Katz asserted that this operation has reduced the scope of terrorism in Judea and Samaria by 80% to its lowest level ever, significantly diminishing the capability to carry out attacks within Israel. "Many lives were saved and many injuries were prevented, and the challenges remain numerous," he remarked. He emphasized that the IDF's long-term presence in the camps is not a legal issue but an operational and security necessity to protect the lives of Israeli soldiers and civilians from severe threats posed by Iranian-backed jihadist elements and the Muslim Brotherhood, aiming to prevent attacks similar to October 7th in the West Bank.

"It is not the business of the High Court of Justice to intervene in security considerations of this kind, just as it was not its business to intervene in operational activities in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, or Iran," Katz stated. He reiterated his firm stance on the matter, vowing to ensure it is reflected in all future discussions, even if it requires special legislative procedures in the Knesset. "This is our duty to our soldiers and our citizens, and we will fulfill it," he concluded.