IDF bolsters forces in Judea and Samaria ahead of Jewish holidays

The Israel Defense Forces is deploying additional troops in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) amid growing regional tensions and ahead of the Jewish holiday period in September, when the threat of terrorist attacks typically increases.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir announced the deployment on Thursday and ordered a standing army division to remain on standby for potential deployment if the security situation requires it.

“Many challenges lie ahead of us. We are advancing battle procedures on all fronts, from Iran and Lebanon to Gaza, and are on high alert in the face of multi-front volatility,” Zamir told top military officials.

Zamir said preparations were also underway to immediately deploy additional units and battalions to reinforce the area, while the military “across all its branches, will remain on full, multi-front readiness during the holiday period.”

A standing army division can consist of tens of thousands of troops.

The increased readiness comes amid tensions in Judea and Samaria, where multiple Islamist terrorist attacks against Israelis have taken place in recent months. At the same time, a small minority of radical Jewish settlers have attacked local Palestinian Arabs, prompting senior IDF officers to warn in closed-door security meetings that such violence could contribute to a broader escalation.

Zamir stressed that the IDF’s focus must remain on national security.

“The IDF is engaged in defending the security of the State of Israel; this is the only consideration,” he said. “We will not be dragged into issues that could divert our focus and readiness.”

Addressing the issue of funding, Zamir acknowledged that “unfortunately, these days we are also engaged in a battle over the budget.”

“At a time when the IDF and its personnel are stretched across all fronts, we must contend with ‘empty coffers.’ Such a situation harms the IDF’s readiness,” he said.

The Finance Ministry responded by emphasizing that it remains “fully committed to the military effort” and has funded all of the military’s operations on all fronts, amounting to hundreds of billions of shekels, in accordance with the needs of the defense establishment.

“The heads of the defense establishment must heed the calls urging them to take seriously the billions of shekels spent every year, so that they are used for the security of the state efficiently and with responsible management,” the ministry added.

The new state budget, passed in March, earmarked a record NIS 143 billion ($45.8 billion), approximately 17% of the total budget, for the Defense Ministry and the military establishment.