Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the IDF to draft a plan to transfer all civil enforcement authority regarding Israeli settlements and populations in Judea and Samaria to the Israel Police. This decision follows a professional discussion held by the Minister with Deputy Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and senior IDF officials, amid ongoing security tensions near the village of Kusra. According to a report by Channel 13, incidents in the area involved attempts by settlers to set up illegal sheds and outposts on Palestinian land, leading to enforcement activities by IDF forces. In this context, the Chief of Staff also ordered the deployment of troops from the 51st Battalion of the Golani Brigade to the Samaria Brigade area to perform defense and patrol missions.
The Defense Minister justified his decision by stating that the IDF’s primary role is to focus on counter-terrorism and the protection of the state's borders and communities, rather than maintaining order among the civilian population. According to him, the transfer of authority is intended to strengthen governance and law enforcement in the area.
Conversely, the decision has sparked public criticism. Member of Knesset Gilad Kariv of The Democrats argued that this directive is contrary to the law and that its consequences could negatively affect how forces operate on the ground in the face of violent acts. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Yesha Council, Israel Gantz, addressed the events in Kusra, noting that these are serious actions that are not accepted by the leadership of the settlement movement. Alongside the tensions on the ground, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee clarified his remarks regarding extremist groups in Judea and Samaria following a public outcry. The Defense Minister’s directive marks a shift in civil enforcement policy in the territories. It remains to be seen how the plan the IDF has been asked to prepare will be implemented and how the division of powers between security forces and the police will actually be carried out regarding the handling of civil events in Judea and Samaria. The developments occur as the IDF operates in various locations to restore order, including the demolition of illegal outposts and the confiscation of equipment used to construct them.