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PA Sparks Unrest in the West Bank: What You Need to Know

QNN Team
PA Sparks Unrest in the West Bank: What You Need to Know

The West Bank is engulfed in escalating violence and political turmoil as Israeli military assaults, Palestinian Authority (PA) crackdowns on resistance groups, and international interventions converge, all targeting a shared adversary: the Palestinian resistance and the Palestinian people.

Over 12,100 Palestinians have been kidnapped since October 7, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Club. Meanwhile, PA security forces are targeting resistance fighters, particularly in Jenin.

The PA’s Role: Security or Suppression?

Israeli forces have intensified their operations in the West Bank since the Gaza genocide began. Daily incursions into Palestinian cities and villages often lead to violent confrontations, arrests, and widespread fear. Over the weekend, Israeli soldiers arrested seven Palestinians, including a woman, during raids in Qalqilya, Tulkarem, and Jerusalem. These incidents are part of a broader pattern of suppression targeting activists and civilians alike.

The violence has sparked growing anger, with Israel committing war crimes, exacerbated by relentless settler attacks on Palestinian villages.

Simultaneously, the PA is conducting its own assaults targeting resistance fighters, particularly in Jenin. The PA frames these actions as law enforcement efforts aimed at “restoring order” and disarming rogue elements. However, critics argue that these operations serve Israeli and US interests, undermining the Palestinian struggle for self-determination.

A spokesperson for the Jenin Brigade said: “Our compass is clear: we resist occupation, not our own people. The PA is doing Israel’s bidding by trying to disarm us.”

Clashes between PA security forces and resistance groups, including the Jenin Brigade, have intensified. In recent days, PA forces killed a resistance leader, Yazeed Juaaisa, wanted by Israel along with several civilians, sparking widespread condemnation. The PA claims to target outlaws, but resistance leaders argue that the PA’s true goal is to dismantle armed groups resisting Israeli occupation.

A spokesperson for the Jenin Brigade told Al Jazeera: “Our compass is clear: we resist occupation, not our own people. The PA is doing Israel’s bidding by trying to disarm us.”

Critics, including Hamas officials, accuse the PA of prioritizing its own survival over the Palestinian cause. “The PA’s actions contradict the principles of resistance,” said Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi. “Their focus is maintaining power, not defending the people.”

US Support for the PA

The PA’s actions have drawn explicit support from Israel, the US, and Arab states such as Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. This backing underscores a shared concern among these actors about the rise of armed resistance in the West Bank, which they fear could harm Israel.

“It was a Syria effect. Abbas and his team were concerned that what happened in Aleppo and Damascus will inspire Palestinian Islamist group,” one Palestinian official told Axios.

According to Israeli media, US security officials, including General Mike Fenzel, met with PA leaders before their Jenin operations, providing logistical and material support. The US reportedly pressured Israel to expedite military aid to the PA, including weapons, helmets, armored vehicles, and night-vision equipment.

The Biden administration also asked the Israeli government to release some of the Palestinian Authority’s tax revenues it has frozen so the PA can pay the salaries of Palestinian security forces.

Axios cited Palestinian and US officials as stating that Abbas ordered the operation to send a message to the incoming Trump administration that the Palestinian Authority is a reliable partner and to try to prevent what happened in Syria from happening in the West Bank.

Neighboring countries also back the PA’s efforts, fearing the growing influence of Islamist factions like Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

“It was a Syria effect. Abbas and his team were concerned that what happened in Aleppo and Damascus will inspire Palestinian Islamist group,” one Palestinian official told Axios.

However, this alignment with external powers has fueled public resentment toward the PA, with many Palestinians viewing it as complicit in suppressing legitimate resistance.

A Battle for Legitimacy

The situation in the West Bank is not just a military conflict; it’s a political struggle for legitimacy. The PA seeks to demonstrate to the US and Israel that it remains a reliable partner in maintaining Israel’s security. For resistance groups, the fight is about preserving their role as protectors of Palestinian sovereignty.

A political analyst, Mohammed Al-Qeeq, noted: “The PA’s actions are about survival. They aim to show the Americans and Israelis that they can still manage security. But this comes at the expense of the Palestinian people’s trust.”

The ongoing conflict in Jenin is emblematic of this larger struggle. Resistance fighters have vowed to continue their fight against Israeli occupation, rejecting calls to disarm. Meanwhile, the PA faces growing internal dissent, with its leadership accused of prioritizing foreign interests over Palestinian unity.

A political analyst, Mohammed Al-Qeeq, noted: “The PA’s actions are about survival. They aim to show the Americans and Israelis that they can still manage security. But this comes at the expense of the Palestinian people’s trust.”

As violence escalates, the future of the West Bank hangs in the balance. Israeli operations, settler attacks, and PA crackdowns risk further alienating the Palestinian population and entrenching divisions. International support for the PA may bolster its short-term capabilities, but at what cost to its legitimacy?

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