The IDF has decided to end the 98th Division’s operational activity in the Judea and Samaria, C14’s military correspondent Hillel Biton Rosen reports. The division is expected to complete its mission in the coming days and return to its original role as an IDF reserve division, ready for any scenario.
In September, the 98th Division (the Fire Formation) took on unusual territorial responsibility in the Judea and Samaria under Central Command. The move was carried out on the orders of IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and led by division commander Brig. Gen. Meni Liberati, following the deadly attack at the Judea Junction.
Under the decision made at the time, the division headquarters assumed operational command over the Judea and Etzion brigades. The IDF emphasized then that the step was designed to significantly boost the defensive and offensive capabilities of forces in the Judea and Samaria—increasing operational presence and providing a rapid, sharp response to any scenario against the backdrop of a tense period and the desire to ensure security and thwart threats in advance.