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Section C of the document titled "Update on the Goals of the War" states: "Arrest operations, targeted suppression, maintaining the security of traffic on the routes, and imposing restrictions on them when required for security reasons should continue, at least with the same intensity as the IDF carried out these tasks immediately following October 7, 2023."   The ambiguously named Operation "Iron Walls" – a fusion of "Guardian of the Walls" and "Swords of Iron" – launched by the IDF on January 21, 2025, "to eradicate terrorism in northern Samaria," serves as another indication of the IDF's increasing politicization. Courtesy of the IDF Sopkesperson According to a report on "Channel 14 – Israel's News Channel," a security source clarified: "What we did in Gaza will also be done in the West Bank… Significant destruction in Jenin is expected. Security forces will go from house to house, street to street. This will take at least two months." Furthermore, commentators on the channel revealed: "The Chief of Staff attempted to oppose certain aspects of the plan, but ultimately the directive was issued: 'With or without you, we are carrying out the campaign.'"   It might be worth questioning whether the entire process could be bypassed, eliminating the involvement of the people's army in advancing political agendas. Today, civilian militias and motivated individuals on the ground are ready and able to perform the "holy work" with "great joy" and "fill their pockets with nuts" [according to a popular Israeli Passover song].

Regarding the recent announcement that "US President Donald J. Trump has decided to lift the sanctions imposed on a number of settlers in the West Bank," I cannot help but recall a comment from one of the "Hilltop Youth" movement: “We are going to receive many 'gifts' in the near future… None of this is worth the terrible ['hostage-ceasefire'] agreement… that no one will think they can buy us off with lentil stew."   In his inauguration speech yesterday, the incoming president explicitly declared his desire to be remembered as a "peacemaker and a unifier." From my understanding his administration will go to great lengths to ensure the agreement remains intact, avoiding any derailment that could lead to renewed conflict. The American interest, as perceived by the new administration, stands in direct opposition to the aspirations of the settlers. Trump stated in his speech that he intends to "end wars and not start new ones," and the incoming national security advisor assured the families of those kidnapped that the administration is committed to "implementing the cessation of hostilities."   If the "gifts" — which the author lists as "construction in the West Bank, budgets, perhaps even the establishment of new settlements" — are not granted, it would be prudent for the Israeli government to prevent their allocation altogether. It would be a mistake to squander precious national resources on such a bland "stew." The enthusiasm expressed by the head of the Samaria Regional Council, Yossi Dagan, seems premature. The incoming president's "love for Israel" is overshadowed by his unwavering commitment to "America first… that we love so much."   The so-called "dispute between friends" may soon reveal itself as a significant clash, fundamentally at odds with the goals of Israel's radical and extremist right. Photography: Idan Yaron

With the cessation of fighting in Gaza and Lebanon, the State of Israel is approaching the brink of opening a new front in the West Bank. If the IDF is dragged into action by provocations from Jewish extremists on the ground, rather than immediately halting their reckless behavior, we risk losing control and spiraling into a situation that will erode the achievements of the War and further diminish the already waning international sympathy for Israel.   The IDF's mission is "to protect the existence of the State of Israel and its independence, and to thwart enemy efforts to disrupt the normal way of life within it." Similarly, the mission of the Israel Police includes, among other objectives, "to maintain security and public order – both against terrorism and against rioters."   Regrettably, at times, the "enemy" comes from within. To safeguard the democratic State of Israel, ensure the uninterrupted daily lives of its citizens, and prevent riots and acts of terrorism, the IDF and the Israel Police must act decisively and with a firm hand.   Proactive measures by the security and law enforcement agencies, taken in accordance with the rule of law, could have prevented potential harm to property and soul on both sides. Photography: Idan Yaron

The cancellation of administrative arrest warrants against Jews, residents of the territories, by Defense Minister Israel Katz, represents a profound injustice, no less troubling than the existence of administrative arrests themselves. These arrests stem from the deeply problematic military legislation imposed in the occupied territories, a system that has persisted for generations. This framework primarily targets Palestinians and serves as a stark indicator of the existence of two parallel legal systems operating in the region.   Historically, this mechanism has been a default tool for the Shin Bet in addressing incitement to violence, racism, and acts of terrorism against Palestinians. It has been applied to influential figures, including Rabbi Meir Kahane, Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh, Baruch Marzel, Bentzi Gopstein, and Meir Ettinger. However, in recent years, the situation has deteriorated significantly due to the Israeli police's refusal to fully and effectively collaborate with the Shin Bet in operations and investigations involving Jewish individuals. As a result, administrative arrests have become a "last resort" measure within the state's arsenal for combating severe manifestations of violent extremism and vigilante terrorism.   Contrary to the Yesha Council's assertion, the umbrella organization of municipal councils of Jewish settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the minister's action does not reflect a "commitment to the values of justice and equality." Instead, it fundamentally undermines these principles. The publicized intention of "strengthening and encouraging settlement" ultimately conveys a far more troubling message – one of further eroding Israeli governance and sovereignty.   The minister's decision underscores a stark and troubling reality: the territories have devolved into a "no man's land" where "there is no law and no judge," and individuals act according to their own discretion. This step not only diminishes the rule of law but also signals an alarming retreat from the principles of justice and accountability. Photography: Idan Yaron

Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, once again ascended the Temple Mount – Al-Haram Al-Sharif – "on the occasion of the Hanukkah holiday." While the act of ascending the Mount is not inherently provocative, it forms part of a religious-messianic (and anti-Zionist) agenda that the Kahanist  movement – from which the Otzma Yehudit  party emerged – has actively promoted for years.   Rabbi Meir Kahane, the ideological figurehead of the Kahanist movement, once declared that the movement advocates for "the expulsion of all non-Jews from the Temple Mount, the removal of all structures intended to perpetuate foreign rule in the Land of Israel, and the transfer of control over the Mount to God-fearing Jews." A decade ago, Ben-Gvir, a close advisor to Kahane and now a prominent minister, echoed this sentiment, stating, "The Temple Mount is the largest cancerous growth we have here, and until the Israeli government comes to its senses and removes this growth, we will not achieve the country's complete redemption." This rhetoric has also permeated cultural expressions associated with the movement. For instance, a member of the "Lehava Movement – For the Prevention of Assimilation in the Holy Land" authored the lyrics to a now-popular song titled "We Just Want to Dance." The lyrics include the provocative lines: "And the main thing is on the Temple Mount / to blow up the mosque, to blow up the mosque / to build the temple." Ben-Gvir's prayer on the Temple Mount was not aimed at maintaining the "status quo" – a concept that has long been eroded despite the Prime Minister's claims to the contrary. Rather, as the minister himself articulated, his actions were intended to symbolize "complete victory" in the spirit of Kahanism. This vision represents not just a profound shift in religious and political control but, as many see it, the unraveling of the state and societal cohesion in Israel. Photography: Idan Yaron

According to The New York Times , "the Israeli military launched a wide-scale operation last month against militants in several cities in the West Bank. Now, roughly 40,000 Palestinians have fled their homes – the highest since Israel occupied the territory nearly six decades ago."   It appears that the IDF has aligned itself with the broader Transfer plan advocated by Israel's religious right. Permission: Activestills.org