A senior Israeli security official: “The situation in West Bank may topple PA President Mahmoud Abbas”
A senior Israeli security official stressed that the complex security situation in the West Bank requires immediately and in-depth evaluation, especially that these complications may topple Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Jacob Perry, the former head of the Shin Bet security service, told the Hebrew newspaper Maariv that these situations pose serious security threats, and strict dynamics can accumulate in them, and a lot of attention is required to be prepared for every possible alternative.
The battle to succeed Mahmoud Abbas began in the West Bank
He explained that “Mahmoud Abbas occupies three positions: the president of the Palestinian Authority, the head of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the head of Fatah, and in recent years, due to his advanced age and health, the battle for succession began after him, and lengthy discussions took place about the expected operations after his exit from the political scene, Where are the hereditary conflicts?
And he continued: “And in the relationship with Hamas, which has a great chance of winning the elections, if they are held, because it will be its chance to prove its strength and status among the Palestinian public in the West Bank.”
He pointed out that “the Israeli security assessment sees that Abbas’s successor at the head of the PA will focus on the comprehensive treatment in the internal field; the subsequent attempt to establish a Palestinian state; And to prevent conflicts between those who will be elected to the additional positions that Abu Mazen currently holds.”
security stability
He stressed that “the new Israeli government prefers to maintain the status quo with the Palestinians, and perhaps this is the position of the majority of the Palestinian public and the international community, although Israel’s interests in the Palestinian arena are concentrated in an attempt to maintain security stability, improve the economic situation, reduce Hamas’ influence, and weaken opposition elements. in the Palestinian Authority.
He explained that “the killing of the Palestinian political opponent, Nizar Banat, ignited major cities in the West Bank, and caused a wave of violent protests threatening to ignite a fuse in them, and we saw scenes that we have not been accustomed to for a long time, and the leadership of the Palestinian Authority, which is working hard to organize demonstrations in support of Abu Mazen, is going through a crisis.” Large ones may “leak” into the clashes with the Israeli security forces, and Hamas is trying to take advantage of this unrest.”
Anger in the West Bank could topple the Palestinian Authority’s president
He pointed out that “the current situation has a great possibility of deterioration, to the point of overthrowing Abbas, who does not know how to calm the situation, while a sharp criticism of the authority’s handling of Nizar Banat’s death is developing, and the statement that provoked the mockery of Palestinian public opinion, that Israel does not take any official position, nor It is already preparing for a fundamental change in the situation, although the government, the ministers of war and internal security, the army and the security forces are required to prepare for a sensitive period: intelligence and operations.”
He concluded by saying that “the complex situation in the West Bank requires immediate acceleration of treatment, and an in-depth assessment of the situation, because they are serious security threats in which severe dynamics may accumulate, although Israel has the intelligence ability to keep abreast of developments, and requires a great deal of attention to be prepared for any possible alternative, We have many years of experience and capabilities, and this is the time to prove it to us and the region,” he said.
He added, “The Israeli responses to the developments of the Palestinian Authority are very important, whether in calming or escalating tensions and turmoil, and it is important that we prepare ourselves for all possible alternatives, and make permanent assessments about how we will act, but it is important that a database of responses be prepared, and that Israel does not appear surprised, and compelled to respond without a prepared plan.”
