Israeli Police Commander Demands Full Control Over Civil Enforcement in West Bank

Moshe Finzi, commander of the Judea and Samaria District Police, has publicly responded to Defense Minister Israel Katz's directive to transfer civil enforcement powers from the IDF to the Israeli police in the West Bank. Finzi emphasized that this transition requires significant resource allocation, deployment of forces, and the subordination of the West Bank Border Police (Magav) to the Judea and Samaria police district.

Finzi highlighted that changes in Israeli settlement patterns, especially the growth of agricultural farms outside established communities in Area C, necessitate a realignment of responsibilities between the military and police. He called for the police force in the district to be expanded from approximately 1,500 to 3,000 officers to effectively manage the increased duties.

Additionally, Finzi advocated for institutionalizing the cooperation framework between the police, Shin Bet, and Central Command, known as the "Mission Command," which was created to address extreme violence in the region. He stated this partnership has proven effective in recent months and should be permanently established following Prime Minister directives.

The proposed transfer of civil enforcement authority focuses solely on Area C of the West Bank, excluding Areas A and B. The initiative, led by Government Coordinator for the Territories Major General Yoav (Yoram) Levy, aims to allow the IDF to concentrate on counterterrorism and border defense, while the police handle civilian law enforcement. Katz remarked that the IDF's role should be fighting Palestinian terrorism and protecting borders, not policing civilian disputes, and that the police will receive the necessary powers to fulfill their expanded role.

This development marks a significant shift in security and administrative responsibilities in the West Bank, aiming to enhance governance, law enforcement, and civilian services in Israeli-controlled areas.