RAMALLAH (Dispatches) -- Israel’s terrorist war minister Israel Katz has instructed the military to prepare a plan to transfer enforcement powers over civilian matters in the occupied West Bank from the army to the police, a move critics say could further advance the process of annexing the Palestinian territory.
According to Katz’s office, the police would establish a force responsible for handling civilian issues in the West Bank, while the military would focus on what it described as “Palestinian terrorism” as well as protecting borders and Israeli communities.
Katz said police oversight of civilian affairs in the West Bank was appropriate, arguing that the force already performs similar duties in every other place in Israeli occupied territories. 
The announcement was reportedly not coordinated with either the military or the police. Israeli media reported that the army supported the move and had been advocating for a reduction in its responsibilities in the West Bank.
The plan was welcomed by settler leaders. Israel Ganz, head of the Regional Binyamin Council in the West Bank, called for the cancellation of the Oslo Accords and the imposition of what he described as “full Israeli sovereignty” over the territory.
“The time has come to move from temporary management to the full application of Israeli law,” Ganz said.
The announcement followed a reported request by Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir to reduce the military’s workload in the West Bank. According to Israeli media reports, Zamir told the cabinet that the army’s responsibilities in the territory were continuing to expand, including as “new settlements will soon be established.”
A military spokesperson said the army was conducting “internal and preliminary staff-level work” to examine the division of responsibilities between security bodies operating in the West Bank.
Katz’s statement referred to the entire West Bank without distinguishing between areas where the Palestinian Authority exercises limited civilian authority and Area C, where Israel maintains direct control under the Oslo framework.
Israel has not formally annexed the West Bank, which has remained under Israeli military occupation since 1967. However, critics and rights groups have said recent measures, including expanding civilian administrative powers and reducing the military’s traditional role, amount to a gradual or de facto annexation.
The move comes amid growing concerns over settler violence in the West Bank. Palestinian communities have reported repeated attacks by settlers, while Israeli military and police authorities have faced criticism over their response.
Veteran Israeli military correspondent Ron Ben-Yishai said the announcement amounted to “de facto annexation,” questioning both its legal basis and whether the police have enough personnel to assume wider responsibilities in the occupied territory.