Israel to Shift Civilian Enforcement in West Bank to Police
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the Israel Police will assume full responsibility for civilian enforcement against Jewish violence in the West Bank, shifting this role from the IDF. This decision follows a weekend attack on foreign diplomats and Palestinian olive harvesters. The plan aims to clarify the roles of security forces and will involve increased police resources. An operation called "Olive Branch" has already led to the arrest of eight suspects in connection with the recent violence.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Defense Minister Israel Katz is transferring civilian enforcement against Jewish violence in the West Bank to the Israel Police.
- The decision follows a weekend attack on foreign diplomats and Palestinian olive harvesters.
- The IDF will now focus solely on fighting Palestinian terror and border defense.
- Eight suspects have been arrested in an operation following the diplomatic incident.
- Katz stated administrative detention orders are not the solution, favoring police enforcement.
- The plan requires coordination between the IDF, police, and allocation of resources.
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced a comprehensive plan Monday to transfer full responsibility for handling Jewish violence in the West Bank to the Israel Police's Judea and Samaria district. The move comes in response to severe weekend violence, including attacks on foreign diplomats and Palestinian olive harvesters.
"The handling of the severe violence by a handful of Jewish rioters in Judea and Samaria must be entirely under the responsibility of the Israel Police's Judea and Samaria district, including preventive activity, investigation, and prosecution," Katz stated. He added that the IDF "does not need and cannot engage in civilian enforcement, but rather must fight Palestinian terror and protect the country's borders and the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria and the seam line."
The plan, prepared by the IDF, clarifies the division of authority between the IDF and the police, aiming to separate the roles of the various security forces in the region. Katz emphasized that the plan does not include recommendations to reinstate administrative detention orders against settlers, a measure he canceled upon taking office. He stressed that "administrative orders are not the solution, but strong and effective police enforcement is."
Katz reported reaching an agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to implement the plan swiftly. This will involve coordination between the IDF and the police, and the allocation of necessary resources, including budgets and personnel, to the police district. The announcement follows a serious diplomatic incident last Saturday in the Palestinian village of Taybeh, where masked Jewish rioters attacked French, Belgian, and Polish representatives and diplomats during an olive harvest. Palestinian harvesters from the village were also reportedly attacked.
In response to the incident, a large-scale arrest operation, codenamed "Olive Branch," began Monday morning, involving the police, Shin Bet, and Border Police, focusing on investigating the violence. So far, eight suspects have been arrested and several vehicles confiscated. The suspects are undergoing interrogation. Simultaneously, IDF and Border Police operations are underway to remove illegal construction and address violations of military orders and the invasion of a Palestinian home. Forces continue their operations and investigation efforts.
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