U.S. Israel relations stories

Aug 13, 2026

Israel to transfer West Bank law enforcement from military to police following settler violence

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the IDF to prepare transferring civilian law enforcement in the occupied West Bank to police, following a week-long siege by settlers of Palestinian homes including one owned by a Palestinian American family. The move, described by critics as de facto annexation, comes after the U.S. ambassador condemned the settler violence as a 'horrific act of terror.'

Aug 13, 20266 sources

Top claims

▪Palestinian Vice-President Hussein al-Sheikh called for international intervention to stop the policing transfer, warning it would entrench the illegitimate annexation of Palestinian land.
▪United States Ambassador Mike Huckabee stated that the Israel Defense Forces and Israel Police deployed to Qusra at the request of the United States to remove the settlers.
▪Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who oversees the police, was not informed beforehand about Defense Minister Israel Katz's announcement.

People involved

Israel Katz

Subtopics

West Bank annexation Israel-Palestine Conflict West Bank Territorial disputes Settler violence Palestinian rights Israeli domestic politics

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