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What happened: Israel’s Security Cabinet met last night and agreed to take measures to prevent the Palestinian Authority (PA) from collapsing.

• Following the meeting they released a statement, submitted by Prime Minister Netanyahu, saying: “In the absence of a change in the national assessment, Israel will act to prevent the collapse of the Palestinian Authority, while demanding that it cease its anti-Israel activity in the international legal-diplomatic arena, the incitement in its media and education system, the payments to the families of terrorists and murderers, and the illegal construction in Area C.”
• The statement was supported by eight votes to one (Minister Ben Gvir) with Finance Minister Smotrich abstaining.
• The government did not specify what measures they would be taking, but they are thought to include economic relief measures, improvements of access and mobility and enhanced security coordination. Israeli media reports have speculated that measures could include:
  • Easing repayment conditions of money the PA owes to Israel.
  • Expanding the hours of the Allenby crossing into Jordan.
  • Advancing the proposed industrial zone in Tarqumiyah, in the southern West Bank.
  • Restoring VIP travel permits for senior PA officials.
  • Advance the development of a natural gas field off the coast of the Gaza Strip, for the benefit of the PA.

Context: Despite the presence of hard right politicians in the government, this latest votes confirms that the more moderate wing of the government still hold the majority.

• The professionals in the security establishment continue to unanimously believe that it’s in Israel’s interest to strengthen the PA, having recently warned that without support the PA could collapse.
• The decision reinforces Israel’s continued policy that distinguishes between Palestinian terrorists and the majority of innocent Palestinian civilians.
• Relating to terror, Prime Minister Netanyahu noted yesterday that, “this is the government’s policy and we are implementing it in three ways:
  • “First, we settle accounts with the assailants themselves, without exception.
  • “Second, we strike those who dispatch terrorists and at terrorist infrastructure.
  • “Third, we initiate and use the element of surprise. We determine the timing of our actions, as we did in Operation Shield and Arrow against Islamic Jihad in Gaza, and as we did in the operation against terrorists in Jenin. We are changing the equation and so we will continue.”
• Highlighting opposition within the government, ahead of the meeting Minister Amichay Eliyahu, from Ben Gvir’s Jewish Power Party, told Army Radio “The PA is very corrupt. I think that ultimately what needs to be done is for Israel to take on full security responsibility. We should be the boss. We should stop forsaking security responsibility to foreigners.”
• The cabinet debate followed last week’s operation in Jenin where Israel targeted the terrorist infrastructure including: command posts, six explosive labs with dozens of kilogrammes of chemicals used to assemble bombs. Forces also found and confiscated thousands of guns, killed 12 militants (the combatant status of one of those killed is today questioned by The Times- see below) and arrested another 30 suspects.
• The relief measures are also intended to counter the influence in the West Bank of Iran, which gives backing to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
• At the end of last week senior PA officials were harassed while attending the funerals of those killed in Jenin, due to their perceived collaboration with Israel.
• However, yesterday Senior PA officials again visited Jenin along with a significant deployment of PA security personnel.

Looking ahead: Security forces remain on heightened state of alert across the West Bank, with a large number of warnings of potential terror attacks.

• The IDF has now instructed troops in the West Bank to have a round in the chamber of their gun while on patrol and manning positions, to enable a quicker response time to attacks.
• Israel hopes that PA Security Forces can be deployed in Jenin and help prevent further terror attacks.