National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced Monday that he supports Defense Minister Israel Katz's proposal to transfer law enforcement responsibilities in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) from the Israel Defense Forces to the Israel Police. However, Ben-Gvir attached a series of conditions to implementing the change.
"I am responding to Defense Minister Israel Katz's call to transfer enforcement authorities in the West Bank from the IDF to the Israel Police," Ben-Gvir stated. He characterized the move as "a significant step on the path to Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank."
The National Security Minister's first demand involves restructuring command of the Border Police (known in Hebrew as Magav) operating in the territory. "In order to advance the implementation of this proposal, I demand that responsibility for the West Bank Border Police be transferred from the IDF to the Israel Police, in accordance with the coalition agreement that has not been honored until now," he said.
But Ben-Gvir's conditions extend beyond Border Police command. He is also seeking powers currently held by the Defense Minister and the IDF, including the authority to order administrative detentions, a measure that allows detention without trial, and to impose administrative restrictions on individuals.
"In addition, the authority for administrative detentions and administrative restrictions must be transferred from the Defense Minister and the IDF to the National Security Minister and the Israel Police," Ben-Gvir declared.
