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Palestinian Authority ends security coordination with Israel, mulls further cutting of ties

The Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee will decide on Wednesday “the nature of future relations with Israel,” Saeb Erekat, chief negotiator in the diplomatic talks with Israel, said.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

The Palestinian Authority (PA) had decided to suspend security cooperation with Israel and is contemplating more drastic and broad cutting of ties with it, PLO Secretary-General Saeb Erekat stated Tuesday.

The Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee will decide on Wednesday “the nature of future relations with Israel,” Erekat, chief negotiator in the diplomatic talks with Israel, stated on Tuesday, the Palestinian Ma’an news agency reported.

Earlier on Tuesday, Erekat told the official Palestinian government radio station that the PA had decided to suspend bilateral meetings between Palestinian and Israeli security officials.

It was not clear from Erekat’s comments whether he was referring to all security coordination between Israel and the PA, or only to meetings between high-profile officials from both sides.

Erekat added during the radio interview that the decision was reached “after Palestinians received a clear message that Israel won’t adhere to already signed agreements, but rather continue to raid Palestinian territories.”

The IDF have been conducting a tedious campaign to thwart Palestinian terror and nab terror operatives, also operating in areas controlled by the PA.

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The Fatah movement’s central committee convened on Monday and came up with “important” recommendations,” Erekat added, which he said would be submitted to the PLO Executive Committee on Wednesday and “would be made public if they are approved.”

The Palestinians have in the past issued vague threats to cut ties with Israel, but have so far failed to take any real steps.

Despite repeated threats to end security coordination by Palestinian officials over the years, the PA and Israeli forces have worked in coordination since the Oslo Accords in 1993.

The Palestinians have a vested interest in the coordination, as IDF actions and intelligence have stymied attempts by rival Palestinian factions, and primarily Hamas, to topple the PA and take control, like they did in Gaza in 2007 after Israel withdrew form the area.