Israeli Defense Minister Orders Transfer of Civil Enforcement in West Bank to Police Amid Koseira Clashes

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to develop a comprehensive plan to transfer all civil enforcement responsibilities in the West Bank to the Israeli Police. This decision, made during a meeting with IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir and senior military officials, aims to clarify roles ahead of the planned establishment of 104 new settlements and the formalization of agricultural outposts in the region. Katz emphasized that the IDF's role is to combat Palestinian terrorism and protect borders and settlements, not to enforce civil law or pursue youths in the hills.

The move follows recent violent incidents in the Palestinian village of Koseira in Samaria, where extremist settlers illegally established an outpost inside the village. The IDF delayed 48 hours before intervening to evacuate the outpost, which was quickly re-established, sparking international criticism. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Herzog condemned the settlers as "Israeli terrorists," and senior U.S. officials demanded a public condemnation from Prime Minister Netanyahu. The White House is involved in resolving the crisis, partly because one of the affected homes belongs to an American citizen.

In response to questions about the IDF's handling of the Koseira events, the military has launched an investigation to examine the 48-hour delay before the initial evacuation and the subsequent 24-hour delay before a second evacuation. The investigation will also review the conduct of forces on the ground. Meanwhile, Chief of Staff Zamir ordered reinforcements to the area, including deploying a regular infantry battalion from training reserves and placing additional forces on standby.

The decision to shift civil enforcement to the police addresses a longstanding operational gap: while the IDF can detain Israeli civilians and quell violence, it lacks authority to conduct criminal investigations or arrests, which require police presence. This gap has complicated responses to incidents in Areas A and B of the West Bank, where police presence is limited. The new plan aims to empower the police with the necessary resources and authority to handle civil law enforcement directly, allowing the IDF to focus on its core security missions.

This policy change comes amid rising tensions between settlers and Palestinians in the West Bank and follows several illegal outpost establishments and evacuations near Koseira and other villages. The move seeks to strengthen governance and law enforcement in the territories while clarifying the separation between military security duties and civilian policing.