Smotrich urges Netanyahu and Katz to defy High Court on return to Jenin and Tulkarm camps
After the High Court ordered the state to give a timetable for letting displaced Palestinians return to three northern West Bank refugee camps, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on the prime minister and defence minister to tell the IDF not to cooperate.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz to instruct the IDF not to cooperate with the High Court of Justice. The Jerusalem PostRC “Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz to instruct the IDF not to cooperate with the High Court of Justice” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ The Media LineN “I call on the prime minister and defense minister to instruct the IDF not to cooperate with the court and not to allow the terror camps to be reestablished” Read at The Media Line ↗ Right · 1He was responding to a Sunday decision requiring the state to give further details on steps towards letting Palestinian residents return to the Jenin, Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps in the northern West Bank. The Jerusalem PostRC “following a decision on Sunday requiring the state to provide further details about steps toward allowing Palestinian residents to return to their homes in the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur Shams refugee camps” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2The ruling was issued by Supreme Court President Amit and Justices Alex Stein and Khaled Kabub on petitions from Palestinian residents and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, who sought a right to return, to rebuild destroyed infrastructure and to adequate humanitarian shelter meanwhile. The Jerusalem PostRC “came in response to a petition filed by Palestinian residents and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ The Media LineN “Petitioners sought permission for residents to return and rebuild destroyed infrastructure as well as adequate humanitarian shelter until their return.” Read at The Media Line ↗
Right · 1The court noted that about one year and nine months had passed since the military operation began, yet the state said the security conditions for return had still not been met. The Jerusalem PostRC “about one year and nine months had passed since the start of the military operation” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1It asked the state for a supplementary update by November 23, 2026, covering the timetable for the remaining measures needed for return, the possibility of speeding them up, and the petitioners' complaints about shortcomings in humanitarian aid. The Jerusalem PostRC “the timetable for completing the remaining measures necessary to enable residents to return to their homes, the possibility of accelerating those measures”“The state was given until November 23, 2026, to submit its response.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Mixed · 2The court did not order an immediate return or direct the IDF to withdraw from the camps, and the Media Line reports it found that security conditions do not currently permit an immediate, full return. The Jerusalem PostRC “The court did not order the immediate return of residents or direct the IDF to withdraw from the refugee camps.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ The Media LineN “While finding that security conditions do not currently permit an immediate, full return” Read at The Media Line ↗
Right · 1Smotrich, who also serves as a minister in the Defense Ministry and chairs the Religious Zionist Party, accused the three justices of endangering Israel's security and said return would lead to rebuilt terrorist infrastructure; he also said they bore responsibility for failures before 7 October and should themselves be investigated. The Jerusalem PostRC “accused the three justices who issued the decision of endangering Israel's security and warned that allowing residents to return would lead to the rebuilding of terrorist infrastructure”“when they themselves should be the first to be investigated” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1He argued that Israel's security is not subject to judicial review and belongs solely to elected leaders, and said he was determined to complete the reform of the judicial system. The Jerusalem PostRC “Israel's security is not subject to judicial review and is entrusted solely to those who bear responsibility for it and were elected by the people for that purpose.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Centre · 1According to UN figures submitted in the proceedings, more than 33,000 Palestinians remain displaced from the three camps, after being cleared beginning in January 2025 when the IDF launched Operation "Iron Wall"; the camps were declared closed military zones. The Media LineN “More than 33,000 Palestinians remain displaced from the three camps, according to UN figures submitted during the proceedings.”“which were declared closed military zones as the IDF moved to dismantle militant infrastructure” Read at The Media Line ↗
Right · 1Neither article reports a response from Netanyahu or Katz. The Jerusalem PostRC “I call on the prime minister and my colleague, the defense minister, to instruct the IDF not to cooperate with the court” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Short, factual report of Smotrich's call, with context on the court order, displacement figures and Operation Iron Wall.
- Emphasis
- Background on the displacement (33,000+ people, UN figures, January 2025 start) and the court's finding that immediate return is not currently possible.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits Smotrich's claims about the justices' role in pre-October 7 failures and his judicial-reform pledge.
- Charged language
- “terror camps”
- For example
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“More than 33,000 Palestinians remain displaced from the three camps, according to UN figures submitted during the proceedings.” — The Media Line
“Smotrich Urges IDF To Defy High Court Order on Return of Palestinians to Refugee Camps” — The Media Line
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Centres on Smotrich's statement, quoting it at length, while noting the ruling was limited to requesting an update.
- Emphasis
- Smotrich's accusations against the justices, his judicial-reform pledge and the limited scope of the order.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives no displacement figures or background on Operation Iron Wall.
- Charged language
- “reckless High Court decision”“Irresponsible judges”“Arab terrorist infrastructure”
- For example
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“Strategic warning in light of the reckless High Court decision to act to return Arabs to the terrorist strongholds in Jenin and Tulkarm.” — The Jerusalem Post
“The court did not order the immediate return of residents or direct the IDF to withdraw from the refugee camps.” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- Smotrich called on Netanyahu and the defence minister to tell the IDF not to cooperate with the court.
- The ruling by Amit, Stein and Kabub gave the state until November 23, 2026 to submit a response or timeline.
- The petitions came from Palestinian residents and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.
- The court did not order immediate return.
Where accounts differ
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Whether returning residents would rebuild terrorist infrastructure
- Centre
- Reports his warning as his claim; notes petitioners seek return and humanitarian shelter.
- Right
- Smotrich says return would bring about rebuilding of terrorist infrastructure; reported without rebuttal.
Bezalel Smotrich person
Says the justices endanger security, that security is not subject to judicial review, and urges the government to order the IDF not to cooperate.
“Israel's security is not subject to judicial review and is entrusted solely to those who bear responsibility for it” — The Jerusalem Post
“Smotrich accused the court of interfering in military decision-making and putting national security at risk.” — The Media Line
Israeli Supreme Court organisation
Found security conditions do not currently permit full immediate return but required the state to provide a timetable and address humanitarian shortcomings.
“the justices directed the military to advance steps toward that goal and provide a concrete plan.” — The Media Line
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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Smotrich Urges IDF To Defy High Court Order on Return of Palestinians to Refugee Camps
Neutral Concise account of Smotrich's call, adding displacement figures and the operation's background.
Right1 article
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Smotrich calls on Netanyahu, Katz to defy High Court over return of Palestinians to Jenin, Tulkarm
Neutral Reports the ruling's modest scope and gives Smotrich's statement extensive space, largely without counterpoint.
- 12 Oct 07:18 First The Jerusalem PostRC Smotrich calls on Netanyahu, Katz to defy High Court over return of Palestinians to Jenin, Tulkarm
- 12 Oct 09:09 +1h 51m The Media LineN Smotrich Urges IDF To Defy High Court Order on Return of Palestinians to Refugee Camps
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.