In a surprising turn of events, the Israeli army conducted a raid just meters away from the Palestinian Authority’s headquarters in Ramallah, West Bank. The raid targeted a print shop, which the Israeli forces claimed supported terrorism. This incident resulted in an exchange of fire between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters at al-Manara Square, the central roundabout in Ramallah. Such confrontations in this area have been rare, with the last one occurring in 2006.
Analysts have noted that these raids, which are a daily occurrence in the occupied West Bank, have taken on greater significance recently. Some believe that they serve as a show of power and provocation towards the Palestinian Authority and its people, with the aim of instilling fear. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have made statements full of incitement and animosity towards the PA, further suggesting that the goal is to embarrass and weaken the authority.
However, it is unclear what prompted Netanyahu’s recent accusation that the PA aims to destroy Israel in stages. This accusation was made during a closed-door meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Meanwhile, the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza has led to discussions among Israeli, American, and other foreign officials about the future political leadership in the strip. The suggestion that the PA could rule over Gaza has been put forward, but many observers doubt its feasibility, and top Israeli officials have opposed the idea.
The Biden administration, on the other hand, has expressed its opposition to an indefinite Israeli military presence in Gaza and any plans to downsize the territory or displace its population. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has stated that the PA’s return to Gaza would depend on a political solution that includes the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. However, the PA faces its own challenges, including Abbas’s advanced age and the lack of elections for PA leadership in nearly two decades.
With the Israeli war on Gaza still ongoing, it is too early to predict what the post-war phase will look like. Some Israeli officials have hinted at a long-term plan involving low-intensity warfare, which would allow Israel to maintain a military presence in Gaza while conducting operations. This strategy would enable them to act with little resistance to arrests or killings of Palestinian civilians and resistance fighters over an extended period.
The Palestinian Authority was established under the 1993 Oslo Accords as an interim governing body with the goal of leading to an independent Palestinian state in the occupied territories. However, after 30 years, the PA has failed to create a state due to Israeli occupation and restrictions, illegal land grabs, and settlements. Additionally, in 2007, the PA lost control of Gaza to Hamas.
Many Palestinians living under the PA in the West Bank view it as a subcontractor for the Israeli occupation. The PA is required to share intelligence with Israel as part of its policy of “security coordination” and to help thwart armed resistance. However, Netanyahu’s right-wing government has been pushing for the dissolution of the PA, despite its strategic value for the Israeli army and security apparatus.
There is a growing sentiment among some Israeli officials that a PA governing Gaza would put pressure on Israel, the US, and Europe to engage in serious negotiations for a two-state solution. This would require Israel to withdraw its illegal settlements across the West Bank and East Jerusalem. However, Netanyahu and his government are signaling their opposition to such negotiations and are focused on maintaining the settlement project without significant resistance from Palestinians in the West Bank.
The popularity of the PA has declined over the past decade, particularly due to a financial crisis and violent repression of critical voices. Calls for Abbas to step down have increased, and recent events, such as the killing of critic Nizar Banat and the Israeli assault on Gaza, have fueled further discontent. The lack of a political solution, combined with Israel’s intensifying occupation and illegal settlements, has led to a resurgence of Palestinian armed resistance.
In conclusion, the recent raid by the Israeli army in Ramallah and the subsequent exchange of fire with Palestinian fighters highlight the ongoing tensions and challenges faced by the Palestinian Authority. The situation in Gaza and the future political leadership in the strip remain uncertain. The PA’s role as a buffer between Palestinians and the Israeli military occupation is increasingly being questioned, and there is a growing disillusionment with its ability to achieve the goal of an independent Palestinian state.
