IDF admits: We refrained from evacuating 13 new outposts

The IDF confirms that in recent days it has refrained from enforcement operations against illegal outposts in Judea and Samaria, including 13 established in the past week. The military is preparing to evacuate them but admits the chances are slim: "We evacuate, and after a day they are back up." It also stated that dealing with the outposts stretches capabilities and prevents action against Palestinian terrorism.

The IDF confirmed today (Wednesday) that in recent days it has refrained from carrying out governance and enforcement operations against far-right activists who established a hundred illegal outposts across Judea and Samaria, 13 of them in the past week. The military says it is preparing to act in the coming days to evacuate the outposts, but admits the chances are slim: "We evacuate, and after a day they are back up." It also stated: "We take nothing for granted. In the past week we did not handle outpost evacuations, and in the coming days we will return to it. There are over 100 points; we evacuate some of the outposts, but this greatly stretches the IDF's capabilities from dealing with other things, primarily the fight against Palestinian terrorism." Following the investigation into the attack at Gilad Farm, the IDF addressed the issue of hikes across the West Bank and said that lack of coordination endangers hikers and allocates resources: "The issue of hikes—every week we are in the sector with dozens of hikes, some unauthorized and unorganized. The IDF approves any hike anywhere—but through an orderly procedure." The military says the hike at Tel two weeks ago, in which Captain Benaya Malet and Major Yuval Ezra were killed, was unorganized and uncoordinated, and the Chief of Staff determined this. They demand coordination with the brigade and division.