Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz calls for police to take over law enforcement in the occupied West Bank from the military, where current enforcement involving settlers faces criticism. He says the change would shift responsibility away from soldiers and place it with police.
The proposal is reported as contentious within Israel. Some right-wing voices criticize the military for actions they say are aimed at removing or restraining settlers who harass Palestinians. Both outlets also link Katz’s proposal to wider political debate inside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government, where some ministers have publicly discussed annexation of parts of the occupied Palestinian territory. If implemented, the move is presented by the reports as part of a broader shift in how Israeli authorities govern the area.
While the sources describe the same policy direction, they emphasize different implications: one highlights internal backlash against the military’s handling of settler-related conduct, while the other focuses on the annexation-related context surrounding Katz’s call.
