National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the IDF’s planned transfer of West Bank civilian enforcement to Israel Police a “significant step toward Israeli sovereignty” on Monday.
Earlier, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the military will present a plan for the transfer within the next two weeks, after initially announcing intention for the transfer of authority on Friday. “We will not allow violence or unauthorized parties to take the law into their own hands,” Katz said.
In his response, Ben-Gvir hailed Katz’s decision, noting it to be a “significant step toward [implementing] Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank.
Ben-Gvir said he had requested that all responsibility for the area be transferred from the IDF to Israel Police, including handing over responsibility for Border Police’s Judea and Samaria Division over from the military to police, “in accordance with the coalition agreement that has so far been violated.”
אני נענה לקריאתו של שר הביטחון ישראל כץ להעברת סמכויות האכיפה ביו״ש מצה״ל למשטרת ישראל.
מדובר בצעד משמעותי בדרך לריבונות ישראלית ביו״ש!
על מנת לקדם את מימוש ההצעה, אני דורש להעביר את האחריות על מג״ב איו״ש מצה״ל למשטרת ישראל, בהתאם להסכם הקואליציוני שעד כה הופר.
בנוסף, יש…
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) August 17, 2026
“In addition, the authority for administrative detentions and restrictions should be transferred from the defense minister and the IDF to the national security minister,” Ben-Gvir demanded. “To date, these powers have not been used against the anarchists and against elements from anti-Zionist movements against the State of Israel; it is time to activate these tools against the enemies of the state,” he warned.
Katz aiming to redefine IDF role in West Bank
On Friday, Katz had announced that he had instructed the IDF to prepare a plan to transfer all civilian enforcement authority for Israeli communities and residents in the West Bank to the Israel Police, as part of a broader effort to redefine the military’s role in the territory.
The move came amid criticism levied at the military of its failure to control settler extremists, who in recent days have targeted Palestinian homes in the village of Kusra, dismantling fences, blocking roads, and besieging the area.
According to Katz, the proposed plan would shift responsibility for civilian law enforcement and public order involving the Israeli population in the West Bank from the IDF to police.
“The IDF’s role is to fight Palestinian terrorism and focus on defending the borders and the communities against threats,” Katz said in a statement. “All responsibility for enforcing civilian matters and maintaining law and order will be transferred to the police,” he added.
The IDF has traditionally handled law and order in the West Bank because the territory is under military administration, while the Israel Police is responsible for civilian law enforcement inside Israel.
Shir Perets contributed to this report.
