Ben Gvir Sees West Bank Police Transfer as Annexation Step

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir confirmed that transferring law enforcement authority in the West Bank to the Israeli police is an important step toward asserting Israeli sovereignty over the area. This statement came after Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced that the military will prepare a plan within two weeks to transfer responsibility for civilian law enforcement from the army to the police, including issuing arrest warrants and administrative restrictions. These steps are considered more concrete actions in Israel’s efforts to increase control over the West Bank and raise Palestinian concerns about the potential repetition of attempts to impose sovereignty and annex the occupied territories, which is regarded as a violation of international law and United Nations resolutions.