Senior officials in the Fatah movement assert that these moves are part of a broader strategy to prevent the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
Netanyahu’s assertions that the PA aims to eliminate Israel using a step-by-step approach have further escalated tensions.
The PA leadership, including Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, perceives this as a deliberate campaign aimed at undermining the PA’s legitimacy, potentially paving the way for the eventual elimination of its rule in Judea and Samaria.
Adding to these concerns are Netanyahu’s comments suggesting that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are prepared for possible conflict with the PA’s security forces in Judea and Samaria.
Senior PA officials dismiss these statements as baseless incitement, asserting that it is part of Netanyahu’s strategy to discredit the PA.
Nabil Abu Rudyeineh, spokesman for the Palestinian presidency, accuses Israel of initiating a war of extermination against the Palestinian people. He also criticizes the United States for allegedly supporting Israel’s policies by vetoing a proposed Security Council resolution for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The PA is uneasy about the increased IDF activity targeting armed groups in northern Samaria.
PA officials claim that the IDF is capitalizing on the situation to eliminate groups in refugee camps in Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarm.
These groups, allegedly supported by Iran, had previously ousted the PA’s security forces from the area.
However, Israel’s security officials express concerns about potential unrest within some PA security mechanisms, dissatisfied with the IDF’s success in combating armed terrorists in northern Samaria.
There are fears that certain elements within the PA might align with Hamas, supporting attacks against Israeli soldiers and civilians in Judea and Samaria.
Mahmoud Abbas perceives a growing conspiracy against the PA, viewing it as a “national achievement” facing external threats.
He rejects President Biden’s call for a “Renewed PA” to govern Gaza, asserting the primacy of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as the legal foundation.
Despite these challenges, the PA draws some encouragement from expected visits by senior American officials in Israel and the PA.
These visits are believed to be aimed at influencing IDF operations in Gaza and pressuring Israel to concede control of Gaza to the PA after the war.
In conclusion, the PA faces a precarious situation with concerns of a sustained Israeli campaign against terrorism post-Gaza conflict.
Netanyahu’s alleged efforts to discredit the PA and Abbas’s delicate balancing act to navigate these challenges reflect a complex and tense geopolitical landscape.
