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Israeli Defense Ministry Orders Plan to Transfer West Bank Policing to Civilian Police Force
Just the facts
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed military officials to draft an operational plan shifting civilian policing duties in the West Bank from the Israel Defense Forces to the national police. The directive follows settler actions in the West Bank village of Qusra, with Katz stating the military should focus on combatting terrorism rather than overseeing civilian groups. Under the directive, the police force will establish a specialized unit under the Ministry of National Security to manage civilian law enforcement. Executive Committee Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization Hussein al-Sheikh condemned the action, characterizing the transfer as an attempt to extend Israeli legal jurisdiction across the occupied territory.
Why this is news
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz directed the military to formulate a plan transferring civilian law enforcement responsibilities in the occupied West Bank to the Israeli police force. The order follows public scrutiny over military responses to Israeli settler activities in Palestinian communities.
Sources
This summary is compiled strictly from the original reporting below.