RAMALLAH, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Vice President Hussein al-Sheikh on Friday condemned an Israeli decision to transfer law enforcement powers involving Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank from the military to the Israeli police.
The move constitutes "a flagrant violation of international law, international legitimacy resolutions and signed agreements," and a new attempt to impose Israeli law and sovereignty over the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, al-Sheikh said in a statement.
He described the move as an attempt to consolidate the "illegal annexation" of Palestinian land, stressing that settlement activity is illegal and that Israel has no sovereignty over Palestinian territories occupied in 1967.
Al-Sheikh urged the international community to assume its responsibilities, halt the "unilateral and dangerous measures," and compel Israel to comply with international law and relevant international resolutions.
The Palestinian Liberation Organization's Commission Against the Wall and Settlements, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad Movement also condemned the plan.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the military to prepare a plan to transfer civilian law enforcement responsibilities involving Israeli settlers and citizens in the West Bank to the police, according to Israeli media reports. Katz said the military should focus on combating "Palestinian terrorism" and protecting communities, while the police should handle civilian law enforcement.
The directive came amid repeated clashes involving settlers, Palestinians and Israeli forces as well as tensions over the evacuation of unauthorized settlement outposts.
More than 700,000 Israeli settlers are living in settlements in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, in contravention of international law, and 3.3 million Palestinians are living in the same area, according to a 2025 UN report. ■
