Katz's plan to shift West Bank settler cases to police not coordinated with IDF, may be blocked

Defense Minister Israel Katz's proposal to transfer authority for handling extremist Jewish activists in the West Bank from the IDF to the police faces significant hurdles, as it was not coordinated with key IDF authorities and may be blocked or delayed for months. The plan, announced last week, has raised concerns because the IDF Central Command head remains the ultimate "sovereign" under international law regarding Israel's "belligerent occupation" of the West Bank. Critics view the move as a political maneuver to grant National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir control over the issue, despite widespread distrust in his ability to manage extremist Jews. Practical challenges also exist, particularly in situations involving both Palestinian and Jewish individuals, and there are worries that the change could lead to both the IDF and police neglecting to address Jewish extremism. Experts anticipate that any changes would likely be minor, negotiated over an extended period, and potentially subject to High Court petitions.