Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir ordered military units in Judea and Samaria to raise their state of readiness following intelligence warnings of potential security escalations and rising nationalist crime. An additional military division has been instructed to remain fully prepared for immediate deployment if operational conditions deteriorate further in the sector.
The military command plans to expand the total force presence in the division to 26 battalions within two weeks. The reinforced presence will feature three regular standing army units, comprising the Nahal Brigade, the Home Front Command regular brigade, and the Paratroopers Brigade.
Security officials explained that the proactive measures are designed to maintain maximum operational flexibility across all potential scenarios. "The chief of staff asked to generate levels of freedom of action for every scenario," a senior security official stated. "So that a situation is not created where we waste precious time transitioning from leave and training to being rushed into the field".
Defense analysts anticipate a significant surge of Israeli visitors travelling through Judea and Samaria during the upcoming Jewish holidays. Military commanders have identified two primary threats, including lone wolf attacks by Hamas terrorists along the seam line, alongside nationalist crime that risks provoking broader regional disorder.
Senior officers believe that the influx of three regular brigades will help suppress violence at known friction points. However, officials acknowledge that young frontline soldiers face operational hurdles when managing civilian disturbances involving Israelis.
"Better preparations are required, mainly mental ones, clear instructions on what is permitted and what is forbidden, yet every young fighter enlisted, trained, and underwent preparation to fight terrorists and not to carry out arrests or detain Israelis," a military source familiar with the sector explained. "Therefore, this complex task of law enforcement and order should be handed over to the Border Police and the Israel Police".
Defense sources warned that upcoming political elections could trigger additional provocations at unauthorized outposts. Security forces report that many individuals involved in extremist activities travel into the area specifically to initiate confrontations with local Palestinian residents.
"Without the integration of all arms, the army, police, Border Police, the court system, and also the leaders of the Israeli settlements, it will be very difficult to deal with the phenomena on the ground," the official noted. "There are illegal outposts that have been evacuated a double digit number of times and it does not help, they return".
