Samaria Council Head Urges IDF Chief to Halt Cuts to West Bank Defense Forces

Yossi Dagan, head of the Samaria Regional Council, has urgently appealed to IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir to cancel plans to reduce the number of Border Defense soldiers in West Bank settlements. In a letter sent following a report by C14, Dagan warned that the proposed cuts would create significant operational gaps and directly jeopardize the security of residents and key transportation routes in the area.

Dagan emphasized the immediate danger posed by the decision, stating that in the current complex security environment, reducing the Border Defense forces would leave settlements without adequate protection and result in unmanned security posts. He called on Zamir to halt the planned reductions and convene a professional discussion involving military and civilian authorities to explore alternative solutions.

Highlighting the critical role these forces play in safeguarding hundreds of thousands of civilians, Dagan stressed that maintaining the current deployment is essential to prevent security vulnerabilities that could endanger lives. He expressed confidence that Zamir prioritizes the safety of Judea and Samaria residents and urged him to reconsider the cuts accordingly.