“Overall responsibility on ministry units [including issues in the West Bank] Still in the hands of the Defense Minister. Ben-Ari said that the “most important” civilian matter in the West Bank over which the Defense Minister has control is the progress of construction plans. Under a decision made during Netanyahu’s first government in 1996 – known as Resolution 150 – all construction plans in the West Bank must be approved by the defense minister. And in any case, the defense minister does not appoint generals, but only de facto approves their appointment,” Ben-Ari said. Currently, the chief in charge of COGAT is appointed by the Defense Minister on the recommendation of the IDF Chief of Staff, and the brigadier general overseeing civil administration is appointed by the Chief of Staff without the involvement of the Defense Minister.
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