Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Friday that he has directed the military to create a framework for transferring civilian enforcement responsibilities in the West Bank from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to civilian police. This policy shift aims to place civilian matters under the jurisdiction of police forces rather than military authorities, who have traditionally managed security and civil order in the territory.

The announcement comes amid reports of increasing settler violence in the region and follows ongoing calls from various Israeli officials for expanded civilian control over the occupied Palestinian territories. While the Defense Ministry frames the move as an administrative adjustment of enforcement powers, the decision has drawn immediate scrutiny from observers who argue it signals a transition toward permanent Israeli integration of the West Bank.

Critics and analysts cited in the reporting describe the move as "de facto annexation," suggesting that by normalizing civilian police presence, Israel is effectively treating the West Bank as sovereign territory rather than occupied land under military administration. The plan is currently in the drafting stage, and the specific timeline for the transition of authority remains unclear. The shift is expected to have significant implications for how law enforcement interacts with both Israeli settlers and Palestinian residents in the area, potentially altering the legal framework governing daily civilian life.