Israel Shifts Civilian Enforcement in West Bank to Police
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the IDF will no longer handle civilian enforcement against Jewish violence in Judea and Samaria, transferring this duty to the Israel Police. The decision follows recent violent incidents and aims to refocus the IDF on counter-terrorism. The plan includes resource allocation and coordination with the Prime Minister's office. Eight suspects were arrested in connection with recent violence.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Defense Minister Israel Katz is transferring civilian enforcement against Jewish violence in Judea and Samaria to the Israel Police.
- The IDF will now focus solely on combating Palestinian terrorism and border protection.
- The decision follows severe violent incidents in the Benjamin region over the past weekend.
- A comprehensive plan has been prepared to regulate the division of responsibilities between the IDF and police.
- Defense Minister Katz confirmed the plan does not include reinstating administrative arrest warrants for settlers.
- Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the recent violence during Operation "Olive Branch."
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Sunday that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will cease civilian enforcement activities in Judea and Samaria, transferring full responsibility for addressing Jewish violence in the region to the Israel Police's Judea and Samaria District. This decision follows a series of severe violent incidents in the Benjamin region over the past weekend.
Katz stated that the "handling of the severe violence by a handful of Jewish rioters in Judea and Samaria must be entirely the responsibility of the Israel Police's Judea and Samaria District, including preventive activity, investigation, and prosecution." He emphasized that the IDF's role is to combat Palestinian terrorism and protect the country's borders and Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, not to engage in civilian law enforcement.
The Defense Ministry has prepared a comprehensive plan to regulate enforcement, clearly delineating IDF authority from the police's civilian enforcement responsibilities. Katz confirmed the plan does not include recommendations to reinstate administrative arrest warrants against settlers, a measure he rescinded upon taking office, asserting that "administrative orders are not the solution, rather, strong and effective police enforcement is."
Katz reported reaching an agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to expedite the plan's implementation, including coordination between the IDF and police, and allocating necessary resources and personnel to the police district. This directive comes amid Operation "Olive Branch," during which eight suspects involved in the Benjamin region violence were arrested in a joint operation with police, Shin Bet, Border Police, and the IDF.
The weekend's events included reports of attacks on a photographer from The Washington Post and suspected assaults on foreign diplomatic representatives. U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee welcomed the arrests, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed concern and stated the Trump administration expects Israel to prevent escalation. Concurrently, a protest arose within the religious-nationalist sector regarding the arrest and detention conditions of a security official from the Shomron, with approximately 100 security coordinators appealing to the Defense Minister and Shomron Regional Council head Yossi Dagan joining the outcry.
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