Defense Minister Israel Katz held a follow-up meeting Sunday night on the policy in Judea and Samaria with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and senior defense officials. At the meeting’s conclusion, the IDF was directed to submit within two weeks a comprehensive plan to transfer civilian law enforcement in the area to the Israeli police. At the same time, officials decided to fast-track efforts to legalize authorized outposts in accordance with the law and subject to security approval.
A significant shift in responsibility for Judea and Samaria is taking shape: Katz has instructed the IDF to prepare within two weeks a plan that would allow Israeli police to assume responsibility for civilian law enforcement activity in the area.
The decision came during a follow-up meeting Katz held with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, the commander of Central Command, the head of the Operations Directorate, the head of the Planning Directorate, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, the Military Advocate General, the commander of the Judea and Samaria Division, the legal advisor to the defense establishment, and additional representatives.
At the meeting’s opening, the defense minister received a briefing on IDF activity in Judea and Samaria and a situation assessment from the Shin Bet commander in the area. Katz praised the military’s operations against Islamic terrorism and pointed to the decline in its scope for the second consecutive year. According to him, operations in the terror camps in northern Samaria represented a significant turning point in weakening infrastructure in the area. Accordingly, the minister instructed officials to prepare for the possibility of entering another camp in the event of attempts to escalate terrorist activity.
A central part of the discussion was devoted to lawbreaking and violent incidents by a small minority among the Jewish population. According to information presented at the meeting, dealing with the phenomenon is forcing the IDF to allocate more and more forces to it. Katz expressed an unequivocal position against the phenomenon and made clear: “We will not allow violence and vigilantism by unauthorized elements.”
The defense minister determined that handling the civilian aspects of enforcement in Judea and Samaria should be carried out by the Israeli police, in cooperation with all relevant bodies. Accordingly, the IDF will submit within two weeks a comprehensive plan that will subsequently be coordinated with the police and implemented subject to the military’s authority in the area.
Alongside the enforcement effort, Katz emphasized that expanding Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria is, from his perspective, an important step for strengthening security. The commander of Central Command expressed support during the discussion for the possibility of establishing and legalizing outposts in appropriate locations, as long as this is done in accordance with the law, based on advance planning, and subject to receiving security authorization. According to the position he presented, outposts established under these conditions could contribute to security in the area. At the same time, the legal advisor to the defense establishment and the Military Advocate General are working to advance legal approval for regulations that will define under what conditions and circumstances it will be possible to legally regularize some of the existing outposts.
The defense establishment is examining an additional tool for dealing with illegal or unregulated activity—economic penalties against those responsible for it. According to the information provided, deterrent economic measures will be considered against those whose activities cause large expenses for the defense system. These measures, if approved, would supplement possible criminal proceedings and not replace them.