Israel Eyes Shifting West Bank Enforcement from Military to Police

On 14 August 2026, Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the IDF to plan transferring civilian law enforcement over Israelis in the occupied West Bank to Israel Police. Lawyer Michael Sfard warned it could advance formal annexation, since the military may delegate enforcement but "not responsibility." Palestinian official Hussein al-Sheikh called it a "flagrant violation of international law" and urged international intervention.