Despite many fears of significant policy reforms of the Israeli government amid the right-wing coalition, early indicators and steps are showing a change is indeed in place but perhaps not what was expected. The official lead spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces announced Sunday morning that after assessing the situation in Judea and Samaria, the IDF will significantly reduce the number of soldiers active in the region.

In a message released to the media, the IDF explained that as part of the continuous and alarming rise in terrorism, an operation that began in the summer was launched all throughout Judea and Samaria to counter the terrorist organizations within the PA-controlled territories. Now close to 6 months later, intelligence indicated the threats have been crippled by the anti-terror campaign. One of the specific areas in which soldiers' presence will be reduced is across the seam line in the Maccabim area which had experienced a troubling increase in terrorist activities in recent months.

Judea and Samaria saw one of its most violent years in the last 15, with 285 terrorist shooting attacks in 2022, compared to 61 in 2021.
Major Spike in Judea and Samaria Shooting Attacks, IDF Stats Reveal https://t.co/zxIsMAOflw

— Bruce Weingart (@bruce_weingart) December 31, 2022

It is not simply that Palestinian terrorism has completely vanished, but IDF’s technological upper hand allows them to rely less on guns and troops. Intelligence and information collection capabilities in the area along with the strengthening of the seam line infrastructure and civil works at the various crossings are all areas in which the IDF has been investing to reduce manpower. At the end of a situational assessment by the IDF’s Central Command that sits in Tel Aviv, it was decided to end the increased activities of operational brigades.

Additionally, brigades within Judea and Samaria will merge to increase efficiency. The  Ephraim and Benjamin spatial brigades will absorb the soldiers coming from brigades operating in the Maccabim area. Also, it was decided that the sector battalion added to the Oranit sector of Samaria will end its activity. In total, this is a decrease of four battalions. The IDF spokesperson further added in his statement "the IDF is acting in a timely manner and will continue to operate in order to prevent the passage of infiltrators and to thwart terrorism in the [Maccabim] seam area in the Judea and Samaria Division."

The number of IDF battalions in Judea and Samaria - currently 23 - will go down to 21 due to the construction of new sections of the seam line security barrier.https://t.co/KsFc9Kx4H9

— Jewish News Syndicate (@JNS_org) December 26, 2022

It is likely the decision to reduce infantry activity was decided upon before the new coalition entered office, however, the optics of it sends a clear message that the government will continue to act in a reasonable manner without acting too brash with its desired policy reforms.