IDF: Authority in the West Bank Can Be Transferred to the Police Only After Annexation
The IDF intends to present Defense Minister Israel Katz with a position stating that, under the territory’s current legal status, authority for maintaining public order in the West Bank cannot be transferred to the police. According to the military’s assessment, such a transfer would require legislation formally establishing annexation.
Key facts
- •The IDF is formulating the position
- •Recipient: Defense Minister Israel Katz
- •Publication date: August 23, 2026
- •Condition for transferring the authority: formal annexation
- •Required mechanism: changing the territory’s status through legislation
What the Defense Minister Demanded
Defense Minister Israel Katz demanded that authority for maintaining public order in the West Bank be transferred to the police. The IDF is preparing to present him with a legal position regarding the possibility of taking such a step.
The Military’s Position
In the IDF’s view, this authority cannot be transferred to the police without changing the West Bank’s legal status. The military believes this would be possible only after the territory’s formal annexation, which would require a legislative decision.
No Decision Has Yet Been Made
The source concerns a position being formulated by the IDF, not a law that has been enacted or a final state decision. It was also not stated exactly when the position would be presented to the minister or whether legislative steps would be taken as a result.
What this means for you
At this stage, police authority in the West Bank remains unchanged. For residents, this means that the minister’s demand alone does not redistribute authority: according to the military’s position, the territory’s legal status must first be changed through legislation.
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