Israel to shift West Bank civilian law enforcement from military to police

Israel’s Defence Minister Yoav Katz has instructed the military to prepare a plan transferring all civilian enforcement powers in the West Bank to the Israeli Police Force, following discussions with senior military officials on Thursday. The directive came after meetings with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, the head of Central Command and other senior military commanders.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Israeli Police will establish and maintain an appropriate force to handle and manage civilian matters across the West Bank. The police will receive all necessary powers and budgets required to assume these responsibilities from the military.
The move marks a significant shift in the administration of civilian affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories, where military law has historically applied. The military has long maintained enforcement authority over civilian matters in Area C, the roughly 60 per cent of the West Bank under full Israeli control.
The Defence Ministry statement indicated that detailed planning would be required to implement the transition, though no timeline for the handover was immediately specified. The proposal would represent a substantial reorganisation of security arrangements in the territory, affecting how laws are enforced and civilian disputes are managed.

Source: Walla News — Original article in Hebrew.