BICOM

According to Haaretz, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told his diplomatic-security cabinet that they must help prevent the potential collapse of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Apparently, the diplomatic-security cabinet has held two lengthy meetings on the issue during the last ten days, in light of the ongoing violence, economic stagnation in the West Bank and political difficulties within the Palestinian leadership. According to two unnamed senior officials at yesterday’s meeting, Netanyahu said, “We must prevent the Palestinian Authority from collapsing if possible, but at the same time, we must prepare in case it happens.”

Discussions among Israeli ministers about the possibility of the PA’s collapse, due to Israeli military pressure, economic pressure and waning legitimacy on the Palestinian street are said to have begun following US Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to the region in November, which failed to produce any diplomatic progress.

Haaretz says that Israel’s defence establishment regards the potential dissolution of the PA as a grave development. They advised the diplomatic-security cabinet “to adopt an official policy of preventing such a collapse,” which would involve, “Not just to say we aren’t interested in a collapse, but to make gestures and take steps on the ground that will stave off the materialization of such a scenario.” Netanyahu is said to have essentially adopted the defence establishment’s position and has held meetings with Defence Minister Moshe Ya’alon and others regarding the PA’s future.

However, some ministers reportedly feel differently about the issue, including those that believe the PA’s dissolution would at least undermine efforts to target Israel at the UN and other international forums. According to the report, they include Jerusalem Affairs Minister Ze’ev Elkin and Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz. Meanwhile, Education Minister and Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett is said to be against doing anything which would bring about the PA’s collapse but does not favour acting to prevent such a scenario.