Israel’s army will demolish structures built in West Bank settlements during the construction freeze, according to an internal military memo.

Several Israeli media outlets reported Sunday on the leaked memo, which calls on the Israel Defense Forces to use drones and photography from the air to identify illegal construction.

“Lightning operations” by special forces would destroy the illegally built structures, the memo says, and the areas around the settlements in which construction is demolished would become military zones closed to the media.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

The document requires attempts at dialogue with settlers before any surprise actions to destroy construction.

Israeli troops would evict settlers “only in extreme instances which will be decided upon individually,” the memo says, according to Ha’aretz. Soldiers would be required to intervene if violence broke out, according to reports. There are concerns about troops refusing to evacuate fellow Jews; police are generally charged with handling the actual evictions.

The operation will be headed by the IDF’s Judea and Samaria Brigade, according to Ynet.

The memo also calls for immediate legal action against settlers who riot and attack security personnel or damage military equipment.

The Defense Ministry responded to reports of the leaked memo, saying that if settlers do not violate the construction freeze the outlined actions would not take place.

“The only thing needed from settlement leaders and settlers is to abide by the cabinet’s decision regarding the settlement building freeze that will be imposed for a limited time to avoid the need to use force or clashes with the security forces,” said the statement released Sunday.

The IDF responded to the reports with a statement noting that the “Civil Administration, the Israeli Police and the Border Police are the relevant authorities who deal with Israeli civilians, as is customary.” It went on to say that “Israeli citizens have a responsibility to leave the IDF, its officers and its soldiers out of politics.”

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount