Israeli Public Divided on Transferring West Bank Civil Enforcement from IDF to Police

Last weekend, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Katz instructed the IDF to prepare a plan transferring all civil enforcement powers in the West Bank to the Israeli police. A News 14 poll conducted on August 18, 2026, surveyed 636 adults across Israel to gauge public opinion on this policy shift. The results showed that 43% of respondents supported the move, 39% opposed it, and 18% had no opinion.

Under Katz's directive, the police are expected to establish a specialized unit equipped with the necessary authority and budget to handle civil matters in the West Bank. This represents a significant change in the enforcement structure in the area, which has traditionally been under military jurisdiction.

The same poll also asked about American support for Israel's demand not to advance in Gaza before Hamas is disarmed. Here, 47% of respondents believed the U.S. backs Israel's position, 42% disagreed, and 11% were undecided.

The poll was conducted by NEXT DATA and analyzed by Shlomo Philber. These findings highlight a divided Israeli public on key security and policy issues regarding the West Bank and Gaza.