Does the IDF stand idly by in the West Bank?

The Times of Israel Daily Briefing explores two critical fronts in Israel's ongoing regional tensions: military operations in northern Lebanon and the complex security and ethical challenges in the West Bank. In the north, the IDF has conducted operations just north of the Litani River within Israel's declared security zone, destroying Hezbollah infrastructure and preparing for potential future incursions. The threat of Hezbollah's first-person-view drones—difficult to detect due to their fiber-optic cables—remains a major concern, with the army testing various countermeasures including netting, mobile radars, shotguns, and smart shooters. Meanwhile, the West Bank presents a deeper institutional crisis: despite the IDF’s de facto control, its soldiers are ill-equipped to handle violent acts by Israeli settlers against Palestinians. The military lacks training, mandate, and authority to intervene effectively, while local Area Defense Forces (Hagmar) often consist of settlers who may even participate in attacks. The border police, though paramilitary, operate under military command, further blurring accountability. The episode reveals a systemic failure across military, police, and judicial institutions, with minimal prosecution of settlers despite repeated violence. The cycle of violence is exacerbated by a lack of deterrence and unclear command structures, raising urgent questions about Israel’s ability to maintain order and uphold law in the occupied territories.