While Israel does not wish for the PA to collapse, it is preparing for such a scenario just in case.
By: JNS and World Israel News Staff
Israeli government officials have been meeting during the past 10 days to discuss the possibility that that the Palestinian Authority (PA) may collapse and to find ways to prevent such an eventuality.
“We must prevent the Palestinian Authority from collapsing if possible, but at the same time, we must prepare in case it happens,” Ha’aretz quoted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday as telling the Israeli security cabinet in a closed-door meeting.
Israel’s defense establishment gave the government oral and written opinions warning of a possible collapse, according to a senior Israeli official. A collapse of the PA government in the PA-controlled areas in Judea and Samaria would create a strain on Israel, the official said, because the Jewish state would need to take over security and civilian affairs from the PA.
Netanyahu has previously said he does not want the PA to collapse and has taken steps to prevent that scenario.
A PA collapse may also pave the way for increased influence by the Gaza-ruling Hamas terror group in the areas in Judea and Samaria under PA control.
The fear of the PA collapsing is not new, and the IDF has trained extensively for such an eventuality.
Palestinian leaders have repeatedly threatened to dissolve the PA as a punitive measure against Israel.