Israel's Defense Minister to Transfer Civilian Enforcement in West Bank to Police

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced an agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance a plan transferring the responsibility for civilian enforcement in the West Bank to the Israel Police's Judea and Samaria district. Katz stated that police responsibility for addressing violence by a minority of Jewish rioters must include preventing such incidents, in addition to investigation and prosecution.

Katz's announcement follows remarks by Police Commissioner Dani Levi, who earlier on Monday emphasized the need to distinguish between the responsibility for preventing incidents in the field and the responsibility for investigation and enforcement after they occur. These statements were made in the context of the "Olive Branch" arrest operation in the Benjamin region, following weekend violence.

Katz explicitly outlined his position: "The handling of the severe violence by a minority of Jewish rioters in Judea and Samaria must be entirely under the responsibility of the Israel Police, Judea and Samaria district, including preventive activity, investigation, and prosecution." He added that the IDF should not and cannot engage in civilian enforcement, but rather focus on fighting Palestinian terrorism and defending the country's borders and Jewish communities.

The Defense Minister reported that under his direction, the IDF prepared a comprehensive plan differentiating the army's authority in the field from the transfer of actual civilian enforcement responsibility to the police. Implementation will involve dialogue and coordination between the bodies, along with budget and personnel allocation for the police district. Katz clarified that the plan does not include recommendations for reinstating administrative detention orders against settlers, calling them a "draconian step" he canceled upon entering office, and stating that "administrative orders are not the solution, rather, strong and effective police enforcement is."

Earlier, the police announced that ten suspects were arrested in the "Olive Branch" operation, conducted with the Shin Bet and accompanied by Border Police and IDF forces. The arrests followed recent violent incidents, including the assault of a Washington Post journalist and suspected assaults on foreign diplomats, as well as other alleged offenses. Commissioner Dani Levi commented on the operation, stating, "The law in Judea and Samaria applies to everyone, regardless of identity or affiliation. The Israel Police is committed to professional, equal, and impartial enforcement, based on evidence and in accordance with the law. Alongside this, there must be a distinction between the responsibility for preventing incidents in the field and the responsibility for investigation and enforcement after their occurrence. We will continue to operate in coordination with all security elements to strengthen security and the rule of law and to prosecute those proven to have broken the law."