Katz orders shift to police in West Bank settler enforcement
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- Israel Katz instructed the IDF to prepare a plan to transfer civil enforcement powers over Israeli communities in the West Bank to the Israel Police, using the term 'Judea and Samaria', on August 14, 2026
- Israeli military would retain authority over Palestinian residents in the West Bank, according to Katz’s office, preserving its role in counterterrorism and border defense
- Hilltop Youth settlers have repeatedly returned to blockade Palestinian homes in Qusra near Nablus, defying military removal efforts since the siege began on August 10, 2026
- Palestinian residents in three Qusra homes have been cut off from food and supplies during the settler blockade, which has persisted despite military intervention attempts
- Right-wing factions in Netanyahu’s government have criticized the military for enforcing removals of settlers, framing such actions as overreach against Israeli civilians
- Annexation of the West Bank is openly supported by several ministers in Netanyahu’s government, and the proposed shift in enforcement could serve as a step toward formal annexation
Why it matters: Transferring policing powers to Israeli civilians in the West Bank while maintaining military control over Palestinians institutionalizes a two-tier system, advancing de facto annexation without changing formal status — a move that risks deepening occupation dynamics while reducing military accountability for settler violence.
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