Mahmoud Abbas has for years threatened repeatedly to cut off security coordination with Israel, and even to rip up entirely the Oslo Accords. He’s huffed and puffed, but until now, he’s never followed through. Now he has finally gone and done it. He’s decided to punish Israel in advance for its plan to extend its sovereignty over both the Jordan Valley and Jewish settlements throughout the West Bank. In a speech in Ramallah on May 18, Abbas declared that “the Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine are absolved, as of today, of all agreements and understandings with the American and Israeli governments.” Not just the Oslo Accords with Israel, but “all agreements” with the Jewish state. And not just with Israel, but also with the Americans.
This time, he is following through. He has already instructed the Palestinian forces to end all security coordination with the Israelis. P.A. police who had been stationed in the East Jerusalem satellite towns of Azzariyah, Abu Dis, Biddu and Beit Ichsa, after getting special permission from Israel to be there as part of the effort to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, have been removed. The Palestinian security forces have ceased to coordinate – even to talk – with the Israelis. Ending all such security coordination with Israel in the West Bank will only benefit Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and others determined not just to destroy Israel, but also the P.A. Abbas doesn’t care. What’s more, to show his fury with the Trump Administration, for that proposed Deal of the Century which would have given the Palestinians a state of their own and $50 billion in aid, he’s also ending “all ties” to the Americans, including the C.I.A.
What does this mean? The security cooperation with Israel has been vital for the survival in power of Abbas and his entourage, whose corruption has made them ever less popular in the West Bank. They well remember that Hamas came to power in Gaza through elections. In the West Bank, as Mahmoud Abbas himself admitted in a speech at the U.N. General Assembly in September 2019, Hamas would defeat Fatah were elections to be held. The Hamas threat in the West Bank has been held in check because Israel and the P.A. have so extensively cooperated on intelligence. If that now ends, Israel, the P.A., and even Jordan – which also fears a Hamas takeover in what are now the P.A.-run parts of the West Bank — will suffer.
The Israelis have had valuable information given to them about Hamas and other groups, such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The Shin Bet even cracked an Al Qaeda cell in Jerusalem with help from the Palestinians. The P.A. has also been helpful in helping the Israelis locate terrorists on the run in the West Bank. In return, Israeli intelligence has helped the P.A. to foil Hamas operations in the West Bank, including several assassination plots against Abbas himself. Israel has shared information with the P.A. about Hamas operatives and activities outside the West Bank, in Gaza and even in Europe.
Now that Abbas has declared such security coordination at an end, the P.A. will no longer supply information to Israel about terrorists in the West Bank, both those who are planning attacks and those who, having committed their murders, have been hiding in the West Bank. No doubt Israel will suffer. But so will the P.A,, which will have a much more difficult time keeping track of its enemies, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and even Al Qaeda operatives. The P.A. has in the past used such coordination with Israel to suppress not just terrorist groups, but also political dissent in the West Bank. Israel has helped in this effort, deeming the P.A. the least bad of possible alternatives. But with Abbas cutting off all ties, such continued coordination will be impossible.
By ending all agreements with Israel, Abbas has created other problems for the P.A. Right now more than half of the P.A.’s revenues, roughly $50 million a month, come from the taxes that Israel collects on Palestinian imports and then transfers to the P.A. If the Oslo Accords and all other agreements with Israel are “ripped up” by Abbas, Israel will certainly not be willing to transfer the taxes it collects on imports to the P.A. How will the P.A. survive if those payments – half of its revenues – come to an end? Or what if Israel, retaliating for Abbas throwing overboard all agreements with the Jewish state, simply halts all imports to, and exports from, the P.A. territories?
Another result of Abbas’ declaring all agreements with Israel invalid will be a steep rise in unemployment for Palestinians in the West Bank. About 85,000 West Bank Palestinians now have work permits for Israel, while another 30,000 have permits allowing them to work in the settlements. These Palestinians are paid at least twice as much as they earn working in the P.A.-run territories. That money helps keep the P.A.’s economy afloat. If Abbas insists on cutting all ties, Israel is unlikely to allow such an arrangement to continue; it’s one more example – just like his recent refusal to accept humanitarian aid from the UAE because the Etihad plane carrying that aid landed in Israel — of Mahmoud Abbas cutting off his nose to spite his face.
Henry Schalk says
It’s likely the craven, pandering EU will make up the shortfall, and for nothing in return to boot.
Roland says
If not the Europeans, Iran and Qatar will gladly plug the gap. Jihad trumps all.
gravenimage says
Wealthy Muslim countries have never contributed much to the “Palestinians”. They expect the “filthy Infidels” to do this.
golem2 says
Abbas does not care. He has his billions
mortimer says
The Pally police will now be fighting crime on their own without any support. They will be targets for the terrorists if they dare to arrest anyone the terrorists like and the terrorists will have armor-piercing ordinance. The lightly armed Pally cop won’t stand a chance. Crime will now sky-rocket. The population will have no choice but to abandon the Pally-terrorist-controlled areas and move either to Israeli-policed areas or move to Jordan. The areas under PA will quickly become the Wild West.
Anjuli Pandavar says
Mortimer, I hadn’t thought of this. “Right of return” becomes “Write-off return.” Khama truly is a bitch.
Myron J. Poltroonian says
√
Anjuli Pandavar says
Mahmoud Abbas might just have mitigated, if not solved, Israel’s CoVID-19 related jump in unemployment, thereby not only spiting his own face, but also saving Israel’s!! 🙂 🙂
Beverly says
Perhaps this is the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
Charlie in NY says
Not to be too Talmudic (if you’ll pardon the expression in this context) about it, but Abbas clearly stated that all agreements Israel and the US have with the PLO and the State of Palestine have been abrogated. As far as I can tell, only one agreement, the Oslo Accords, fits that definition. Since neither the US nor Israel recognize any State of Palestine, neither country has any agreement with that entity. As far as the PLO is concerned, the Oslo Accords set up the Palestinian Authority which has been a self-governing entity ever since. Bottom line: only the PA can dissolve the PA, not the PLO by renouncing on Oslo. So, Abbas’ threat is as empty as the suit he is wearing.
Myron J. Poltroonian says
Oh, there you go, getting all nit picky, T-Dotting and Eye-Crossing again.
keith O says
If this arrogant numpty is the best and brightest of these people, well, all I can say is, they are screwed and get what they deserve.
The common people are nothing but pawns to help fill his bank accounts.
Only when the rest of the world and the common people start standing up to these criminals will things change.
Beneath the Veil of Consciousness says
The edicts of Islam seem to be the perfect cover and distraction for these mobsters.
gravenimage says
Abbas Cuts Off His Nose to Spite His Face
…………………..
As Abba Eban said, “the Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity” still holds true.
Charles M Tinker says
I don’t see why old men care about great wealth. Caroline Gluck has a different useful take on this move by THE PA
gravenimage says
Abbas is not too old to spend Infidels’ money.
jca reid says
You can’t make deals with Muslims! Taqiyya. Simply sign anything, to buy time, so in the Future it all kicks off again.