How the Palestinian Authority’s final gamble in Jenin could lead to its demise
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has entered a lost battle with its crackdown in Jenin, which will ultimately lead to its demise, analysts and an insider say.
The ongoing campaign against anti-occupation armed groups in the northern West Bank city, which has killed at least 16 Palestinians so far, is doomed to fail regardless of the outcome, a senior Fatah figure told Middle East Eye.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, he explained that the PA has been pressured to drop its balance between serving Israel’s security needs and maintaining legitimacy among the Palestinian people.
By attacking Jenin, they have effectively “abandoned their negative neutrality” regarding the Palestinian cause and chosen to side with the Israelis, in exchange for maintaining power, he said.
“If the PA succeeds in Jenin, it will lose its justification for existence among Palestinians, and if it fails, it will lose its justification for existence in relation to Israel,” he added. [Continue reading…]