National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir on Monday afternoon issued a statement backing Defense Minister Israel Katz's plan to transfer civilian enforcement powers in Judea and Samaria from the IDF to the police, while adding his own demands. Ben Gvir called for operational control of the Border Police (Magav) in the area to be moved to the Israel Police, and for authority over administrative detentions and restrictions to be transferred from the Defense Ministry to the National Security Ministry. He framed the move as a step toward Israeli sovereignty and said the powers should be used against what he called 'anarchists and anti-Zionist elements.'
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir responded Monday afternoon to Defense Minister Israel Katz's initiative to transfer civilian enforcement powers in Judea and Samaria from the IDF to the Israel Police. In a statement reported by multiple Israeli media outlets, Ben Gvir expressed support for the move while laying out additional demands.
Ben Gvir's statement called for the operational responsibility for the Border Police (Magav Yehuda v'Shomron) to be transferred from the IDF to the Israel Police, citing the coalition agreement that had not yet been implemented. He also demanded that the authority to issue administrative detentions and restrictions — currently held by the Defense Minister and the military — be transferred to the National Security Minister and the police.
The National Security Minister framed the transfer of enforcement powers as 'a significant step on the path to Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria' and said the administrative tools should be used against 'anarchists and elements from anti-Zionist movements.'
The statement follows Katz's announcement earlier Monday, in which he instructed the IDF to submit a plan within two weeks for transferring civil enforcement activities in Judea and Samaria to the police. Katz's directive followed a security assessment held Sunday night and came amid growing concerns over illegal activity and violence by a small minority of Jewish residents in the area, which has required increasing IDF resources to address.
The Judea and Samaria District Police Commander, Superintendent Moshe Pintzi, had voiced support for the transfer on Sunday, stating that the growth of the Israeli population in Area C required adjustments and that the police should handle civil enforcement matters.
The proposed transfer of powers, if implemented, would represent a significant reorganization of security and civil authority in the region, with implications for the IDF's operational focus and the role of the police in Judea and Samaria.
7 developments
- DevelopingBen Gvir reportedly moves to transfer local political infrastructure from Religious Zionism to Otzma Yehudit
- StrongBen Gvir: 'For every Jew murdered, the enemy must suffer loss of land and homes'
- DevelopingKatz convenes top security chiefs, orders expansion of offensive operations in Judea and Samaria
- StrongMinister Ben Gvir wishes speedy recovery to Itamar Cohen, who killed terrorists in Judea and Samaria attack
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