Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz announced plans to transfer civilian enforcement powers in the West Bank from the army to the police. The move is viewed by some as a step toward de facto annexation of the occupied Palestinian territory.
This policy shift could significantly alter the governance and legal status of the West Bank, potentially escalating tensions and further entrenching Israeli control over Palestinian civilian life, while international law considers the territory occupied.
Israel is preparing to shift civilian enforcement responsibilities in the occupied West Bank from its military to the police, a move that critics are labeling as a step towards de facto annexation. Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Friday that he had directed the military to develop a plan for this transfer of powers.
Under the proposed framework, the police would establish a dedicated force to manage civilian matters, while the army would concentrate exclusively on combating "Palestinian terrorism" and safeguarding borders and communities. Katz stated that it is appropriate for the police to oversee civilian affairs, as they do in all other parts of Israel.
The announcement was reportedly not coordinated with the military or the police. However, Israeli media indicated that the army welcomed the initiative and had been advocating for it. The head of the Regional Binyamin Council, Israel Ganz, expressed support for the plan, urging for the cancellation of the Oslo Accords and the imposition of full Israeli sovereignty over the territory.
According to Israeli news site Ynet, the announcement stems from a request by army chief Eyal Zamir to alleviate the military's extensive workload in the West Bank. Zamir had previously informed the cabinet that the army's responsibilities were expanding due to the establishment of new settlements, and that it was inappropriate for soldiers to handle tasks related to settlers accused of terrorizing Palestinian communities.
Israel has not formally annexed the West Bank since its occupation in 1967. However, experts argue that the government's recent actions, including increasing the role of civilian bodies and reducing the military's involvement in civilian administration, amount to de facto annexation. This shift occurs amidst a notable increase in settler violence across the West Bank, with recent incidents involving settlers besieging Palestinian homes.