IDF officials: Granting police powers in West Bank requires formal annexation

According to Haaretz, IDF officials have stated that any change to the structure of policing powers in the West Bank, specifically transferring them to civilian authorities, would require the formal annexation of the territory. These sources emphasized that such a move would go beyond mere administrative adjustments and would fundamentally alter the legal status of the region. The report suggests that the primary objective of this plan is to allow settlers to build freely in the West Bank. Critics and military officials warn that these changes could have significant security and international repercussions for Israel. Currently, policing in these areas is under military jurisdiction, and transferring it to the police or other civilian bodies would require extensive legislative changes at the government level.