In response to a recent spike in violent confrontations between radical Jewish settlers and Israeli forces, law enforcement has formed a dedicated new task force to crack down on extremist activity in the West Bank. The initiative was finalized during a high-level emergency meeting held Monday.
The newly formed task force will fall under the jurisdiction of Samaria Region Police Commander Avi Cohen. He will lead efforts in conjunction with the IDF and the Shin Bet to address a growing wave of attacks believed to be orchestrated by members of the so-called Hilltop Youth.
This interagency unit was created following urgent consultations that included Defense Minister Yisroel Katz, IDF Central Command head Major-General Avi Bluth, West Bank District Commander Moshe Pinchi, senior Shin Bet officials, and Defense Ministry personnel tasked with addressing Jewish extremism in the region.
Organized into four specialized divisions—intelligence, operations, investigation, and communications—the task force is structured to function with maximum coordination and access to IDF and Shin Bet intelligence and infrastructure.
The intelligence and investigation teams will be composed of forensic analysts, detectives, and officers from the West Bank Intelligence Division. These units are tasked with gathering evidence, identifying perpetrators, and assembling the legal groundwork to pursue criminal charges.
The operational wing has already been activated, receiving a full Border Police company of 60 officers originally assigned to counter Palestinian terrorism. This team is now redeployed to address threats posed by Jewish extremist groups, a shift that leaves one fewer unit available for operations against Palestinian terror threats. The operational team will have authority to act independently without prior approval from Central Command. On Monday night, the unit was dispatched to suppress rioters at Tapuah Junction.
The communications unit’s primary function will be to build and maintain trust with West Bank communities. Officials emphasized that the violence stems from a fringe group and does not represent the broader settler population. The IDF, police, social service departments, and local authorities all view community engagement as essential for continued cooperation and effective governance.
This crackdown was prompted by a string of serious incidents in recent days, including a violent standoff between settlers and soldiers on Mount Hatzor near an illegal outpost, where Palestinian homes and cars were torched, leading to three Palestinian deaths. Other alarming episodes included arson at a police building in Beit El, the torching of a communications facility used by security personnel, the burning of a police vehicle, rock-throwing at soldiers that resulted in IDF gunfire injuring a 14-year-old Israeli boy, and an attempted breach of the Binyamin Brigade military base.
Commander Avi Cohen will spearhead the mission as the overall lead for this high-priority police operation, aimed at curbing the rise of Jewish nationalist violence in the West Bank. The overarching goal: identify perpetrators, contain the unrest, and restore stability in coordination with Israel’s military and security services.

{Matzav.com}