Police Task Force Makes Initial Gains in West Bank
In response to escalating violence by Jewish extremists targeting Palestinians, Israeli authorities have established a specialized police unit that is showing promising early results. The unit, formed approximately a month ago, has already reduced overall incidents by 58% and serious incidents by 67% according to police data.
Background of Escalating Tensions
The current wave of violence has roots in earlier conflicts. Palestinian terrorist activities increased significantly starting in March 2022, prompting Israeli military operations. Following the October 7, 2023 attacks, Israeli responses intensified with military operations in areas including Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nab al-Shams.
Jewish extremist violence has paralleled these developments. In February 2023, a major incident occurred in Huwara where dozens of extremists burned Palestinian property, injured multiple Palestinians, and killed at least one person. Former IDF chief Herzi Halevi publicly apologized for the military's slow response, promising improved readiness for future incidents.
Despite these assurances, attacks continued to increase. Police opened 967 cases in 2025, with 29 incidents occurring in a single week before the new unit's formation.
Political Challenges and New Approaches
Several political factors have complicated efforts to address the violence. Defense Minister Israel Katz reduced Shin Bet involvement by ending administrative detention of Jewish extremists in January. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has reportedly hindered police efforts to control extremist violence.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appears to have taken more direct action recently, working with Police Chief Daniel Levi and West Bank Police Commander Moshe Finchi to establish the new unit. This move effectively bypasses some political obstacles that previously hampered enforcement.
Unit Operations and Results
The new police unit employs proactive strategies rather than reactive responses. "We do not wait for the next incident, we identify, research, act, and approach the lawbreakers in advance," explained a police source.
In its first month, the unit opened 121 cases, arrested 21 individuals, secured six indictments, and obtained detention orders for two suspects until trial completion. Additionally, eight extremists were questioned for violating West Bank entry restrictions, while 24 others received unspecified disciplinary measures.
Even before the unit's formation, enforcement had been increasing, with indictments rising from 24 in 2024 to 61 in 2025, and interrogations increasing from 260 to 441 during the same period.
Ongoing Challenges and Questions
Despite initial progress, significant challenges remain. The IDF continues to struggle with responding to extremist violence while prioritizing Palestinian terrorism. The Shin Bet remains constrained by political decisions. With only six indictments secured against an estimated 200-300 violent extremists, questions persist about long-term effectiveness.
Political sustainability also remains uncertain. While Netanyahu has supported the current approach, his continued commitment may depend on international attention, particularly from the United States.
The police have achieved their first sustained progress on this issue in years, but only continued serious effort has potential to create lasting change in the West Bank security situation.
