"In Good Faith" It's Not Going: How Katz's Plan to Handle Hilltop Youth Collapsed

Defense Minister Israel Katz established a directorate headed by Col. (res.) Avichai Tanami to handle hilltop youth, with an annual budget of 40 million shekels. 16 months after the decision, violence continues — about 200 Jewish rioters attacked in the village of Jiloud. Shin Bet chief David Zini, who has so far blocked the return of administrative detentions, warned he will demand their reinstatement if violence is not curbed.

Defense Minister Israel Katz established 16 months ago a directorate to handle hilltop youth, headed by Col. (res.) Avichai Tanami, aiming to reintegrate them into frameworks and rebuild trust with the state, instead of administrative detentions. The budget approved in May 2026 stands at 40 million shekels per year for three years. However, the incident in the village of Jiloud last week, in which about 200 Jewish rioters attacked security forces, set structures on fire, and wounded three Border Police fighters, illustrates that the plan has yet to yield results. Many of the youths refused to meet with Tanami, seeing him as a representative of the establishment. Meanwhile, Shin Bet chief David Zini, who has so far blocked the return of administrative detentions against Jews, warned he will demand their reinstatement if violence is not curbed. The Defense Ministry did not provide data on youths who returned to frameworks or on a decrease in violence.