Israel eases restrictions on Arabs of Judea and Samaria 

As Israeli forces prepare to withdraw from two refugee camps in Judea and Samria - held for over two months - to redirect focus toward intensified ground operations in Gaza, Israel has quietly begun implementing a series of easing measures for Palestinians in Tulkarm and Jenin. The move marks a return to the longstanding “carrots and sticks” approach in Judea and Samria.

On Tuesday, Israeli authorities reopened the Jalameh checkpoint near Afula, allowing Israeli Arabs to enter Jenin and continue on to Tulkarm. More than 4,000 vehicles bearing Israeli license plates reportedly passed through for shopping and business in Jenin, a city that has long been a hub of tension. The military is also expected to extend the opening hours at key checkpoints around Tulkarm, currently limited to an eight-hour window each day.

In parallel, the Defense Ministry has approved new entry permits for dozens of Palestinian businessmen and traders from Judea and Samaria, enabling cross-border activity to help stabilize the local economy. Meanwhile, displaced families in the Jenin refugee camp - where Israeli troops have occupied homes for two months - have been permitted to return to collect personal belongings.

In the neighboring city of Tulkarm, where the IDF's Kfir Brigade controls the Nur Shams refugee camp, over 400 Palestinian requests have been approved for humanitarian aid, infrastructure repairs, and coordinated activities. On Tuesday, for the first time in more than two years, Palestinian Authority tractors and trucks—with Israeli authorization—began repaving damaged roads in the Nur Shams camp. These roads had been deliberately torn up by Israeli combat engineers in the past year to expose hidden explosive devices laid by militants. “Now that the routes are cleared of traps, they can be repaved,” an Israeli military spokesperson explained.

Another notable development is the increasing coordination between Israeli forces and Palestinian Authority security units, particularly around Jenin and Tulkarm. With Israel’s backing, Palestinian forces have launched near-daily operations—arresting hundreds of wanted individuals, confiscating weapons, and reestablishing control in areas previously off-limits to their authority for years. This joint effort has reduced the operational load on Israeli troops, allowing them to concentrate on surgical raids targeting key terror cells and infrastructure attempting to regroup.

In response to mounting economic pressures following Israel’s post–October 7 ban on most Palestinian laborers entering Israel, another initiative is underway to allocate agricultural land for Palestinian use near the West Bank security barrier - safely distanced from volatile areas.

Unlike in the past, the Palestinian Authority and local institutions in Judea and Samaria have not initiated strikes in protest against Israeli activity in the camps - highlighting a complex but pragmatic shift in dynamics on the ground.

YNET contributed to this article.