Israeli army prepares for possible surge of Palestinian violence

i24news.tv

Israel’s economic sanctions on Palestinians could result in eruption, but widescale uprising not expected.

Top military officials warned Monday that Israel’s economic sanctions on the Palestinian Authority could result in violent eruptions against Israel in the West Bank. The officials, briefing reporters, said the military was preparing for various scenarios, holding extensive drills in recent weeks.

Israel is currently holding NIS 2.5 million (almost $600 million) in taxes it collected for the Palestinian Authority. Israel decided not to pass the money to the PA as retribution for its attempt to attain statehood through a UN Security Council resolution and to join the International Criminal Court. 

Ynet reported Monday that Israel Defense Forces officials had recently presented the political echelons with assessments regarding possible ramifications of the sanctions based on past lessons when growing economic tensions served as a catalyst for riots and even terror attacks.

To ease tensions, the military has been listing some restrictions on Palestinians, approved by the political echelons, such as increasing the number of work permits issued to Palestinians seeking work in Israel and the number of entry visas for Palestinian merchants from the West Bank into Israel. 

The Palestinian Authority, which is the West Bank’s main employer, has adopted sharp budget cuts, paying workers only 60 percent of their salaries — in addition to cutting services across the board.

Nonetheless, the officials estimate that the PA will not stop its security cooperation with Israel, which includes the sharing of intelligence on potential hotspots and on suspected terrorists, because it needs Israeli help against the rising strength of the Hamas in the West Bank.

Israel, for its part, needs the security cooperation in order to confront various threats, including efforts by young Tanzim – a militant offshoot of Fatah — to set up terror cells in the area. In Nablus, Palestinian security forces recently rounded up some of these Tanzim youth.

The IDF’s West Bank Division held an unprecedented series of drills over the last few weeks to prepare for any escalation. The drills simulated the takeover of Palestinian towns, among other scenarios. The extensive drill involved all command levels, from battalions to the General Chief of Staff.

Still, the army does not necessarily expect a violent escalation in the wake of the results of the Israeli election, and they are aware that the Palestinians are imposing restraint in an attempt to prevent an uprising, Haaretz reported.

At this point the Israeli defense establishment sees little willingness on the part of the Palestinian public to take part in large popular anti-Israel demonstrations, and the Palestinian Authority is making efforts to prevent a conflagration, fearing it would mostly harm Palestinian society and the economy, and set back the progress achieved in recent years of relative calm. ”