Israel Considers Shifting West Bank Settler Violence Cases From Army to Police

Yesterday 11:00

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz is seeking to redefine the division of responsibilities between the military and the police in the occupied West Bank, proposing that law enforcement authorities take full charge of violence involving Jewish rioters. The initiative aims to allow the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to concentrate on military operations, counterterrorism and border security.

Under the proposal, the Israeli police’s Judea and Samaria District would assume responsibility for preventing incidents, conducting investigations and pursuing judicial proceedings related to such violence. Katz has argued that maintaining civilian order should fall within the remit of law enforcement rather than the armed forces.

The announcement signals a proposed shift in Israel’s security arrangements in the West Bank, where military personnel have played a role in managing incidents involving Jewish extremists alongside their broader operational duties.

Katz seeks clearer boundaries between military and police duties

Katz maintains that the army should focus on combating what Israeli authorities describe as Palestinian terrorism, protecting the country’s borders and safeguarding Jewish communities in the West Bank and areas near the separation barrier.

In his view, transferring responsibility for civilian law enforcement would establish a clearer distinction between military operations and policing. The defence minister said the IDF had prepared a plan at his request to reorganise the handling of public-order incidents in the territory.

The proposed arrangement would separate the army’s military responsibilities on the ground from the police’s investigative and enforcement functions. However, the practical details of implementation will be important in determining how the new division of duties would operate in sensitive areas.

Administrative detention remains a point of contention

Alongside the proposed transfer of responsibilities, Katz has reiterated his opposition to reinstating administrative detention for Jewish residents of Judea and Samaria.

Administrative detention allows authorities to hold individuals without a conventional criminal trial under specific legal and security procedures. The measure for Jewish residents accused of involvement in violent incidents had been discontinued when Katz took office at the Defence Ministry, according to the information provided.

Katz has described the practice as excessively harsh and rejected its return as a solution to the problem. Instead, he has called for stronger police action, arguing that effective investigations and law enforcement should be the primary tools used to address the violence.

His position places greater emphasis on criminal investigations and police intervention rather than preventive detention measures.

Proposed specialist unit could include up to 800 personnel

A central element of the reorganisation could be the creation of a dedicated force known as “Brigade C”, designed to address nationalist violence in the West Bank.

According to Israeli news outlet Ynet, the proposed unit would comprise between 700 and 800 police officers and security personnel. Its deployment in sensitive areas would be intended to prevent confrontations and enable a rapid response when incidents occur.

The reported structure would place the unit under the administrative authority of the IDF’s Central Command while granting it police powers, including the ability to conduct investigations and make arrests. This arrangement would combine military-area coordination with law enforcement functions.

The precise operational framework, including the division of authority between the unit, the police and the military, will be crucial to the effectiveness of the proposed system.

Implementation and accountability remain key questions

The initiative seeks to address two objectives: reducing the burden of civilian policing on the army and strengthening the institutional response to violence involving Jewish extremists.

Its effectiveness will depend on how responsibilities are allocated, how investigations are conducted and whether the relevant authorities can ensure consistent enforcement. The proposal also raises questions about coordination between military commanders and police investigators in areas where security operations and civilian law enforcement overlap.

For now, Katz’s announcement outlines a proposed change in the management of these incidents rather than a fully implemented new system. The planned restructuring and the possible establishment of Brigade C will determine how Israel intends to translate that policy into operational practice.

The broader challenge will be to reconcile military priorities with the effective investigation and prosecution of violence in the West Bank, a territory at the centre of a long-running and deeply contested conflict.