Israel Police to Take Over West Bank Law Enforcement

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has directed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare a comprehensive plan transferring all civilian law enforcement authority in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) to the Israel Police. The decision emerged from a meeting with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and senior military officials, and represents a significant shift as Israel prepares to establish 104 new settlements and formalize agricultural outposts in the territory. Katz emphasized that handling civilian enforcement matters in the West Bank "is not the IDF's role and is beyond its capacity."

He argued that the anticipated population growth following the settlement expansion decisions, combined with increasing security threats in the central front, necessitates a clear separation between military operations and civilian law enforcement responsibilities.

Under the directive, Israel Police will be required to organize and establish an appropriate force to handle civilian matters, receiving all necessary authorities and budgets for the task. The IDF, meanwhile, will continue concentrating on its core missions: combating Palestinian terrorism and defending borders and communities against security threats. "The IDF's role is to fight Palestinian terrorism, focus on protecting borders and communities from threats, deal with border areas and the territory itself and security threats to the settlements and the State of Israel, and not to chase after youth on the hilltops," Katz stated.

According to the defense minister, all responsibility for handling and enforcing matters related to settlements, settlers, and civilian issues will be transferred to Israel Police, which must prepare accordingly.

Katz characterized the move as "significant in strengthening governance and establishing law and order in Judea and Samaria and freeing the IDF to carry out its primary missions." The decision is expected to be implemented in coordination with Israel Police and relevant authorities, with the Israeli government and IDF delegating all necessary powers to the police for executing these tasks.

The initiative follows Katz's visit this week to the Ganim settlement in Samaria, where he drew a distinction between Israel's presence in Lebanon and settlement in the West Bank. "Here this is the land of our forefathers, we're staying forever," the defense minister declared at the time, emphasizing the commitment to strengthening settlement activity.