GOC Central Command Major General Yehuda Fuchs has been unilaterally undercutting the policy set by the political echelon by cutting down the number of forces allocated to the enforcement of Palestinian construction violations in Judea and Samaria, Israel Hayom has exclusively learned.

As a result, the policy set by the government of cracking down on illegal construction has never been fully implemented. The report has triggered a strong rebuke by some on the Right.

Data obtained by Israel Hayom shows that in recent weeks there has been a drastic decrease in measures against illegal Palestinian construction in Judea and Samaria because of the decision to draw down the number of forces who could be used to secure demolition operations in Palestinian towns – thus preventing the officials from executing such warrants and other enforcement-related action.

Fuchs refused to heed the request to provide the necessary troops in accordance with the enforcement policy of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who has been tasked with handling civilian matters in Judea and Samaria.

The minister sent a letter to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding that they instruct Fuchs to help implement enforcement operations by supporting the government policy with the needed troops. The letter criticizes Fuchs for putting a spoke in the wheels of the government for non-professional reasons.

A source in the Civil Administration told Israel Hayom that "as far as the general is concerned, he is the sovereign on the ground. He sees Smotrich has scaled back tackling illegal Jewish construction, so he does not want to be suspected of selective enforcement that could result in legal action against him".

Likud lawmakers slammed the major general after the Israel Hayom report. One of them, MK Dan Illouz, tweeted:

"The illegal construction of among Arabs in Judea and Samaria is rampant. You can clearly see it on the ground. The political echelon sets the strategic agenda while the military echelon is the operator. This is how things must be conducted, otherwise, we will have anarchy. The general's actions are beyond the pale."

Source - Israel Hayom/Twitter - Image - Wissam Hashlamon/Flash90