Ben Gvir Agrees to Transfer West Bank Enforcement Powers to Police, Demands Expanded Authority

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced his acceptance of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's call to transfer civilian enforcement powers in the West Bank from the IDF to the Israeli Police. However, Ben Gvir set conditions for implementing this transfer effectively, demanding that responsibility for the West Bank Border Police also shift from the military to the police force.

Additionally, Ben Gvir insisted that administrative detention and restriction powers currently held by the Defense Minister and the IDF be transferred to himself as National Security Minister and to the police. He criticized the current lack of use of these powers against anarchists and anti-Zionist groups, stating it is time to apply these tools against enemies of the state.

Ben Gvir emphasized that only after these steps are completed can the Israeli Police practically assume full responsibility for enforcement in the West Bank. His demands reference provisions in the coalition agreement that he claims have not yet been fulfilled. This development follows Gallant's recent proposal to shift enforcement authority from the military to civilian police in the West Bank.