The political-security cabinet decided on several measures to strengthen the Palestinian Authority or prevent its collapse. The cabinet decision was preceded by Prime Minister Netanyahu's statement regarding what Israel sees as a need for a strong and functioning PA. It is clear that the Prime Minister and most of the cabinet ministers understand that a stable and functional PA is in Israel's strategic interest, and that any other alternative at this time would harm both Israel's essential interests and stability in the region.
The stability of the PA and its improved performance are necessary for stabilization of the security apparatuses, as a condition for continued security cooperation with Israel, and for the guarantee of the PA's ability to manage the daily life of the civilian population and its current needs. The collapse of the PA will inevitably lead to the transfer of the burden to Israel and require an Israeli military takeover of the area to prevent Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or other armed militias from seizing control.
The fact that it is actually a right wing government – which has ideological components that avowedly seek the destruction of the Palestinian Authority and Israel’s annexation of all or most of the West Bank – that has taken significant decisions of this sort, indicates that the Prime Minister and the security establishment have internalized the seriousness of the situation, including the enormous risk of the absence of effective enforcement against extremist lawbreaking Jews from among the “hilltop youth” and their supporters. However, in the absence of a broad and orderly strategic idea regarding the Palestinian arena, the decision remains captive to the limitations inherent in the lack of a strategic compass and context.
If in the Prime Minister's eyes normalization with Saudi Arabia is the game changer – the move that will lead to the design of the new regional architecture, and will make Israel a legitimate and welcome entity within the Arab space and beyond it, in the Islamic space (looking toward Indonesia and Malaysia), and consolidate its regional, economic, and security stature – additional steps will be required vis-à-vis the Palestinians. It is doubtful whether under the current coalition the Prime Minister would be able to commit to such measures. Therefore, it may be necessary to change the political map in Israel and reengineer the coalition, to take advantage of the historic opportunity to reframe and agree on the judicial overhaul, in a way that will help mitigate internal divisions and strengthen domestic cohesion.
The political-security cabinet decided on several measures to strengthen the Palestinian Authority or prevent its collapse. The cabinet decision was preceded by Prime Minister Netanyahu's statement regarding what Israel sees as a need for a strong and functioning PA. It is clear that the Prime Minister and most of the cabinet ministers understand that a stable and functional PA is in Israel's strategic interest, and that any other alternative at this time would harm both Israel's essential interests and stability in the region.
The stability of the PA and its improved performance are necessary for stabilization of the security apparatuses, as a condition for continued security cooperation with Israel, and for the guarantee of the PA's ability to manage the daily life of the civilian population and its current needs. The collapse of the PA will inevitably lead to the transfer of the burden to Israel and require an Israeli military takeover of the area to prevent Hamas, Islamic Jihad, or other armed militias from seizing control.
The fact that it is actually a right wing government – which has ideological components that avowedly seek the destruction of the Palestinian Authority and Israel’s annexation of all or most of the West Bank – that has taken significant decisions of this sort, indicates that the Prime Minister and the security establishment have internalized the seriousness of the situation, including the enormous risk of the absence of effective enforcement against extremist lawbreaking Jews from among the “hilltop youth” and their supporters. However, in the absence of a broad and orderly strategic idea regarding the Palestinian arena, the decision remains captive to the limitations inherent in the lack of a strategic compass and context.
If in the Prime Minister's eyes normalization with Saudi Arabia is the game changer – the move that will lead to the design of the new regional architecture, and will make Israel a legitimate and welcome entity within the Arab space and beyond it, in the Islamic space (looking toward Indonesia and Malaysia), and consolidate its regional, economic, and security stature – additional steps will be required vis-à-vis the Palestinians. It is doubtful whether under the current coalition the Prime Minister would be able to commit to such measures. Therefore, it may be necessary to change the political map in Israel and reengineer the coalition, to take advantage of the historic opportunity to reframe and agree on the judicial overhaul, in a way that will help mitigate internal divisions and strengthen domestic cohesion.