Israeli Police Criticize IDF Chief of Staff Over West Bank Security Responsibility
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Senior Israeli police officials are pushing back against IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, arguing against the sole transfer of West Bank security responsibility to the police. They highlighted that 1,700 Border Police officers are already under IDF Central Command's operational authority. This dispute follows a recent escalation of violence in the West Bank, including attacks on foreign nationals and property damage. The police stressed their role in investigations while pointing to the IDF's operational command of significant Border Police forces in the region.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Senior Israeli police officials criticized the Chief of Staff over West Bank security responsibility.
- Approximately 1,700 Border Police officers are already attached to the IDF's Central Command.
- The criticism follows a recent surge in violence in the West Bank.
- The IDF approved a new Border Police company for the Benjamin region.
- Police emphasized their role in criminal investigations versus IDF operational command.
Senior Israeli police officials have criticized the Chief of Staff, stating that the military should not shift all responsibility for security in the West Bank onto the police. They emphasized that approximately 1,700 Border Police officers are already attached to the IDF's Central Command and operate under its authority. This criticism arises amid a recent surge in violence in the West Bank and ongoing disputes over the division of security responsibilities.
According to police sources, the 1,700 Border Police officers attached to the Central Command are tasked with responding to riots, violence, and nationalistically motivated crimes in the Judea and Samaria region. The police differentiate between the IDF's operational responsibility for these attached forces and the police's role in criminal investigations, evidence gathering, and prosecution.
The police critique was prompted by the Chief of Staff's approval to establish a new Border Police company to combat nationalistic crime in the Benjamin region, expected to begin operations in November. Additionally, there are demands to reinforce the Judea and Samaria police district with more officers, investigators, and patrol cars.
Police officials highlighted that the IDF already deploys a significant force of Border Police officers under Central Command, suggesting that the operational command's handling of these forces should be considered when assessing responsibility for incidents. This comes after a series of serious violent events in Judea and Samaria over the past weekend, including attacks on foreign journalists and diplomats, stone-throwing, and the torching of vehicles and property in Palestinian villages in the Benjamin area.
While the police affirmed that investigations are ongoing to apprehend those involved, senior officials reiterated that responsibility for events in Judea and Samaria is not solely theirs, pointing again to the 1,700 Border Police officers already under IDF Central Command's operational control.
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