Katz: IDF to outline plan shifting West Bank settler violence authority to police within two weeks

The IDF will present a plan to transfer West Bank civilian enforcement to Israel Police within the next two weeks, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Monday afternoon."We will not allow violence or unauthorized parties to take the law into their own hands," Katz said.Katz aiming to redefine IDF role in West BankOn Friday, Katz had announced that he had instructed the IDF to prepare a plan to transfer all civilian enforcement authority for Israeli communities and residents in the West Bank to the Israel Police, as part of a broader effort to redefine the military's role in the territory.The move came amid criticism levied at the military of its failure to control settler extremists, who in recent days have targeted Palestinian homes in the village of Kusra, dismantling fences, blocking roads, and besieging the area.According to Katz, the proposed plan would shift responsibility for civilian law enforcement and public order involving the Israeli population in the West Bank from the IDF to police."The IDF's role is to fight Palestinian terrorism and focus on defending the borders and the communities against threats," Katz said in a statement."All responsibility for enforcing civilian matters and maintaining law and order will be transferred to the police," he added.The IDF has traditionally handled law and order in the West Bank because the territory is under military administration, while the Israel Police is responsible for civilian law enforcement inside Israel.