The Palestinian Authority (PA) is intensifying its efforts to crack down on militants in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, aiming to assert control and bolster its position ahead of Donald Trump’s presidency, analysts say.
Deadly clashes erupted in early December between PA security forces and militants, primarily in the Jenin refugee camp, a stronghold for armed groups. The violence has left 11 people dead, including PA security officers, militants, and civilians.
The PA’s operation, triggered by the December 5 arrest of a Jenin Battalion commander accused of possessing weapons and illicit funds, is focused on members of the Jenin Battalion, many of whom are linked to Islamic Jihad or Hamas. The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel sparked the ongoing Gaza war, adding to the regional turmoil.
“What is happening in Jenin is a crucial test for the Palestinian Authority, which is trying to assert its control and impose security in the region,” AFP quoted political analyst Khalil Shahin as saying.
A PA official said President Mahmoud Abbas has rejected mediation efforts and demanded that militants surrender their weapons. PA security forces spokesman Anwar Rajab stated, “there will be no tolerance for this rogue group that operates outside the law.”
The clashes point to the growing rivalry between the PA, dominated by Abbas’s Fatah party, and Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007. Armed factions in Jenin and other areas portray themselves as more effective resistance against Israel, undermining the PA’s credibility.
Analysts suggest the PA is trying to prove its ability to control violence in the West Bank and potentially govern Gaza post-war. Shahin noted that the PA is attempting to navigate the ongoing conflict and regional instability ahead of Trump’s January inauguration.
During Trump’s first term, US-Palestinian relations soured after decisions such as moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, cutting aid to Palestinians, and supporting Israeli annexation plans. Hani al-Masri, director of the Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies, said the timing of the PA’s actions appears to be an effort to align with Trump’s return to office and potential ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.
Masri cautioned against “illusions” that Trump would adopt a more favourable stance in his second term. The PA “believes it will be acceptable to the new Trump (presidency) if it lowers,” he said.
Meanwhile, tensions are escalating between the PA and its rivals. Videos of alleged abuses by PA security forces have fueled accusations from Hamas and Islamic Jihad that the PA is advancing Israeli interests. Fatah has responded by denouncing those who “legitimise chaos and anarchy.”
The clashes, compounded by the ongoing war in Gaza and increased Israeli military raids in the West Bank, have raised fears of more intense intra-Palestinian violence. The Palestinian government has yet to announce its next steps in the volatile region.Palestinian Authority Cracks Down on Militants in West Bank Amid Rising Tensions
The Palestinian Authority (PA) is intensifying its efforts to crack down on militants in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, aiming to assert control and bolster its position ahead of Donald Trump’s presidency, analysts say.
Deadly clashes erupted in early December between PA security forces and militants, primarily in the Jenin refugee camp, a stronghold for armed groups. The violence has left 11 people dead, including PA security officers, militants, and civilians.
The PA’s operation, triggered by the December 5 arrest of a Jenin Battalion commander accused of possessing weapons and illicit funds, is focused on members of the Jenin Battalion, many of whom are linked to Islamic Jihad or Hamas. The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel sparked the ongoing Gaza war, adding to the regional turmoil.
“What is happening in Jenin is a crucial test for the Palestinian Authority, which is trying to assert its control and impose security in the region,” AFP quoted political analyst Khalil Shahin as saying.
A PA official said President Mahmoud Abbas has rejected mediation efforts and demanded that militants surrender their weapons. PA security forces spokesman Anwar Rajab stated, “there will be no tolerance for this rogue group that operates outside the law.”
The clashes point to the growing rivalry between the PA, dominated by Abbas’s Fatah party, and Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007. Armed factions in Jenin and other areas portray themselves as more effective resistance against Israel, undermining the PA’s credibility.
Analysts suggest the PA is trying to prove its ability to control violence in the West Bank and potentially govern Gaza post-war. Shahin noted that the PA is attempting to navigate the ongoing conflict and regional instability ahead of Trump’s January inauguration.
During Trump’s first term, US-Palestinian relations soured after decisions such as moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, cutting aid to Palestinians, and supporting Israeli annexation plans. Hani al-Masri, director of the Palestinian Center for Policy Research and Strategic Studies, said the timing of the PA’s actions appears to be an effort to align with Trump’s return to office and potential ceasefire negotiations in Gaza.
Masri cautioned against “illusions” that Trump would adopt a more favourable stance in his second term. The PA “believes it will be acceptable to the new Trump (presidency) if it lowers,” he said.
Meanwhile, tensions are escalating between the PA and its rivals. Videos of alleged abuses by PA security forces have fueled accusations from Hamas and Islamic Jihad that the PA is advancing Israeli interests. Fatah has responded by denouncing those who “legitimise chaos and anarchy.”
The clashes, compounded by the ongoing war in Gaza and increased Israeli military raids in the West Bank, have raised fears of more intense intra-Palestinian violence. The Palestinian government has yet to announce its next steps in the volatile region.