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PA Not Interested in Military Showdown with IDF

(Jerusalem Post) Khaled Abu Toameh - Palestinian Authority security forces are not headed toward an armed confrontation with the IDF, despite the involvement of some PA officers in recent attacks in the West Bank, Fahmi Shabaneh, former PA General Intelligence Force commander of the Hebron area, said Sunday. "The Palestinian Authority and its security forces are not interested in a military showdown with Israel," Shabaneh said. "The Palestinian leadership considers the security coordination to be sacred. That's why they won't stop the security coordination with Israel." Shabaneh pointed out that most of PA President Abbas' senior aides support the continuation of security coordination. "The recent attacks were carried out by individuals who don't represent the policies of the Palestinian leadership and the security forces." Shabaneh added that the PA has already lost control of the situation in most parts of the West Bank. "The Palestinian Authority is strong only against an individual here and an individual there. But when it comes to the general situation, the Palestinian Authority has undoubtedly lost control." For example, "there are many areas in Hebron where the Palestinian security forces have no presence at all. The clans have more power than the Palestinian security forces." The battle to succeed PA President Mahmoud Abbas, 87, has resulted in the division of the West Bank into three regions that are controlled by competing parties. Shabaneh said he expected armed clashes to erupt between supporters of rival Fatah leaders the day after Abbas departs the scene. "Each one of the Fatah leaders has prepared his own armed men. They are ready for the fight. There won't be a civil war, but there will be armed clashes between groups belonging to [rival] Fatah leaders, each one of whom considers himself a natural successor to Abbas."
2022-09-19 00:00:00
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