High-profile case8/17/2026

Katz Demands Plan to Transfer Civilian Law Enforcement in Judea and Samaria to Police

Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare, within two weeks, a plan to transfer civilian law enforcement in Judea and Samaria to the police. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir agreed to assume these powers only after the conditions he set are met.

Key facts

•Assignment: Submit a plan within two weeks
•Scope: Judea and Samaria, particularly Area C
•Approximately 160 farms were mentioned
•First published: August 17, 2026
•No court case or proceeding number
•No final statute or regulatory text was mentioned

What Happened

The decision followed incidents near the Palestinian village of Qusra in Samaria. According to a source, a group of settlers took control of an area on the outskirts of the village and surrounded residents’ homes, and for an extended period did not comply with demands by soldiers who arrived at the scene to leave.

What Katz Instructed Officials to Prepare

Katz said the military should focus on combating Palestinian terrorism and protecting borders and communities, while responsibility for maintaining order among Israeli citizens should be transferred to the police. During a meeting with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Central Command chief Avi Blot, it was also agreed to expedite the regularization of legal farms. In addition, the authorities will consider economic measures against illegal or unregulated activities that impose substantial costs on the security establishment, alongside possible measures under criminal law.

Ben-Gvir’s Conditions

Ben-Gvir demanded that responsibility for the Border Police in Judea and Samaria be transferred from the Israel Defense Forces to the police, citing the coalition agreement. He also demanded that the powers of administrative detention and administrative restrictions, which currently fall under the defense minister’s authority, be transferred to him and the police. According to his position, the police will be able to assume responsibility in practice only after these steps are taken.

What Restrictions Remain

Police representatives explained that the initiative primarily concerns Area C outside population centers, where there are approximately 160 farms. According to them, the police currently cannot operate in Areas A and B without military accompaniment, and some police procedures also require special permits. The source does not indicate that the transfer of powers has already taken place, nor does it cite an enacted statute or final regulatory text.

What this means for you

At this stage, the matter concerns the preparation of a plan, not a transfer of powers that has already taken place. If the initiative is implemented, the police will be able to assume civilian law enforcement involving Israelis in the relevant areas, but the operating mechanism in Areas A and B and the need for military accompaniment remain unresolved.

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Case analysis based on court rulings