Katz: IDF to outline plan shifting West Bank settler violence authority to police within two weeks

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the Israeli military will present a plan within two weeks to transfer all civilian enforcement authority for Israeli communities and residents in the West Bank to the Israel Police. This strategic shift aims to redefine the IDF's role in the territory, moving it away from domestic law enforcement and towards its core mission of combating Palestinian terrorism and defending borders.

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We will not allow violence or unauthorized parties to take the law into their own hands.

The decision comes amid mounting criticism of the military's perceived inability to curb settler extremists. In recent days, these groups have engaged in actions such as dismantling fences, blocking roads, and besieging Palestinian villages like Kusra. Katz emphasized that the government will not permit unauthorized parties to take the law into their own hands, signaling a commitment to reasserting state control over civilian matters.

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The IDF's role is to fight Palestinian terrorism and focus on defending the borders and the communities against threats.

Under the proposed plan, the IDF will relinquish responsibility for maintaining public order and enforcing civilian laws concerning the Israeli population in the West Bank. This authority will be fully transferred to the Israel Police, which is traditionally responsible for civilian law enforcement within Israel. The West Bank has historically been under military administration, leading the IDF to handle such matters. This transfer signifies a significant change in the operational landscape and the division of responsibilities in the West Bank.

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All responsibility for enforcing civilian matters and maintaining law and order will be transferred to the police.