The Palestinian Authority (PA) has launched a crackdown on armed groups in the Jenin refugee camp, seeking to win favor with Israel and the US. The operation, which began in early December, has been criticized as serving the interests of Israel over supporting the Palestinian struggle for freedom and self-determination.
Experts say the PA’s move is an attempt to restore its limited authority in the occupied West Bank and prove its worth to its handlers – Israel and the US. However, the crackdown has earned widespread condemnation from Palestinians, including the killing of 21-year-old journalist Shatha Sabbagh by PA gunfire.
The PA’s security forces have mirrored some of Israel’s tactics, surrounding the camp with armoured personnel carriers, firing indiscriminately at civilians, and summarily detaining young men. This has led to criticism that the PA is abandoning its role as a civil police force in favor of hardline and coercive tactics.
US-trained PA security forces are seen using American involvement as a sign of adopting such tactics, according to experts. The PA was created to uphold Israel’s security, but it has lost control over the West Bank and is now trying to claw back control.
The PA’s Western donors – mainly the US – have pressured Fatah to rein in Hamas, exacerbating tensions between the two factions and leading to a split in the Palestinian national movement. The conflict has led to a brief civil war that has still not been bridged despite numerous attempts at reconciliation.
Experts say Israel plans to formally annex the West Bank and collapse the PA, irrespective of whether armed resistance continues. The PA relies on Israel’s banking system to pay salaries and secure vital imports, making its survival dependent on Israel and its backers.
The US-Palestinian Authority relationship is seen as crucial in preventing chaos and ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. However, the PA has isolated itself from regional states and its own constituents, leaving it with limited options for survival.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2024/12/30/the-pa-crackdown-on-palestinians-appeals-to-israeli-western-interests