Katz says IDF has 2 weeks to draw up plan to hand West Bank civilian enforcement to police

Defense Minister Israel Katz says he has instructed the IDF to submit within two weeks a plan to “transfer responsibility for civilian enforcement in the West Bank to the Israel Police,” a move widely seen as impractical in the lead-up to a national election.

During a meeting with top military and defense officials last night, Katz says he “expressed an unequivocal position against violence and the taking of the law into their own hands by unauthorized parties,” referring to recent attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians, “and stressed the need for enforcement in all civilian aspects in the West Bank to be handled by the Israel Police through effective and efficient inter-organizational cooperation.”

“It was agreed that the IDF would submit a comprehensive plan on the matter within two weeks, which would subsequently be coordinated with the Israel Police and subject to the IDF’s authorities in the field,” a statement from Katz’s office says.

Katz said Friday that he had instructed the IDF to formulate a plan to transfer civilian enforcement powers in the West Bank from the military to the Israel Police.

It was not clear what impact such a measure would have on the ground. Israel has never formally annexed the West Bank, and therefore, the IDF has been responsible for enforcement in the area. In addition, the IDF has always already handed any suspects detained in the West Bank over to the police for interrogation or arrests.

Additionally, Katz says he will be advancing the legalization of outpost farms in the West Bank, which are technically illegal under Israeli law but were established with full government backing. There are currently 126 settlement farms.

According to Katz, Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth supports the legalization of the farms, “based on advance planning and subject to security approval, in a manner that would contribute to security in the area.”

Lastly, Katz says the IDF must prepare to “seize and clear another” Palestinian refugee camp in the West Bank — similar to operations carried out by the army in early 2025 — but only if terrorism increases there, after previously instructing the army to carry out such a move regardless.