Defense Minister Israel Katz held a special meeting Thursday on Judea and Samaria, attended by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the head of the Operations Directorate, the head of Military Intelligence, and other commanders. At the meeting’s conclusion, Katz directed the IDF to prepare—in coordination with the Israel Police—a detailed plan to transfer all civil enforcement authority over Israeli communities and population in Judea and Samaria to the police. Under the directive, the police will organize and establish a dedicated force to handle civil matters, and will be granted all necessary authorities and budgets.
1+Katz explained his decision, saying it is neither the IDF’s role nor within its capacity to handle civil enforcement in Judea and Samaria. He said the determination is based on the expected blessed increase in the Israeli population following decisions to establish 104 new communities and legalize agricultural outposts on one hand, and on the other hand the intensifying security threats and challenges the IDF faces and is expected to face on the central front. Katz stressed that the IDF’s job is to fight ‘Palestinian’ terror, focus on defending borders and communities against threats—not to chase kids on hilltops.
The Defense Minister’s office noted that transferring responsibility for civil enforcement to the Israel Police represents a significant step in strengthening governance and enforcing law and order in Judea and Samaria, while freeing up IDF forces to carry out their primary missions. The Israeli government and IDF will delegate all necessary authorities to the police to carry out these tasks. The Israel Police, however, clarified that implementing the move depends on agreements reached between Defense Minister Katz and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and that the police will act according to political leadership decisions.
1+“All responsibility for handling and enforcing matters related to Jewish communities, Israelis, and civil issues will be transferred to the Israel Police, which will need to prepare accordingly,” Katz said, declaring that “this is also a significant step in strengthening governance and enforcing law and order in Judea and Samaria and freeing up the IDF to carry out its primary missions. The Israeli government and IDF will delegate all necessary authorities to the police to carry out these missions.”
Israel Gantz, Head of the Binyamin Council and Chairman of the Yesha Council, praised the decision, stating: “This is another step on the path to correcting a reality that has lasted for decades. Now the move must be completed, the Oslo Accords must be canceled and full Israeli sovereignty must be applied in Binyamin, Judea and Samaria. The time has come to move from temporary administration to full application of Israeli law.”