The Israel Defense Forces carried out around 80 brigade-level counterterrorism operations across the West Bank last year, neutralizing hundreds of militants and confiscating over 1,300 weapons, according to military data. Overall, Palestinian terrorist activity in the area fell sharply in 2025, with attacks down 78% and incidents involving firearms dropping by 86%.
Why Security Is Central to Israel’s Strategy
The West Bank, known to Israelis as Judea and Samaria, is home to more than 500,000 Jews and nearly 3 million Palestinians. Security remains a key concern in the region, which sits at Israel’s eastern border and includes strategic high ground critical for national defense.
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Jonathan Conricus, a former IDF spokesperson and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told News that no Israeli government could relinquish control of the area without compromising the country’s safety. He noted that the Jordan River provides a natural barrier while elevated terrain controls much of Israel west of the 1949 armistice line.
Dan Diker, president of the Jerusalem Center for Security and Foreign Affairs, added that Israel gained vital strategic depth after the 1967 Six-Day War. Following the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, this strategic importance has only grown as weapons continue to flow across borders.
Historical and Religious Significance
Beyond security, Judea and Samaria hold deep biblical and historical value. Yishai Fleisher, international spokesman for Hebron, highlighted that the area contains sites like the Tomb of the Patriarchs and many locations mentioned in the Bible, including Jerusalem and Bet El. He emphasized that national aspirations in Israel stem from this historical and religious heritage.
Extremism and Governance Challenges
The region has also faced internal tensions. In 2025, the IDF recorded a 27% increase in anti-Palestinian crimes, while extremist Israeli youths carried out property damage in several areas. Yisrael Ganz, Governor of Binyamin and Chairman of the Yesha Council, stressed that the absence of Israeli sovereignty fosters a legal gray zone where violence and anarchy can flourish.
“Governance, security, and economic opportunity reduce space for extremism,” Ganz said, envisioning a stable Judea and Samaria as “the Israeli Tuscany.”
The Two-State Solution Debate
Former U.S. Ambassador Michael Oren argued that the two-state solution has never been fully viable. Palestinians have repeatedly rejected offers of statehood, including in 1937, 1947, 2001, and 2008. Polls suggest most Palestinians oppose a two-state framework and continue to support attacks like those on October 7.
Dan Shapiro, former U.S. ambassador to Israel, explained that while a two-state solution is no longer politically feasible in the near term, it remains a reference point in diplomacy. Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, Shapiro noted, includes a credible pathway to Palestinian self-rule if Hamas is removed from power.
Even Israel’s right-wing government, which includes proponents of annexation, has avoided applying sovereignty over the West Bank, showing that the political and security costs remain high. Preserving the potential for a peaceful, sovereign Palestinian state continues to hold diplomatic significance, though major changes in leadership and regional conditions would be necessary.
