The Palestinian Authority (PA) faces significant challenges in Jenin, where its ongoing operation against Iranian-backed militant groups has triggered violent clashes and deepened the divide with local communities.
Mohammad Daraghmeh, Asharq News bureau chief in Ramallah, explains that Iran’s funding of militants prompted the PA’s crackdown, aiming to disrupt financial flows and suppress these factions. He highlights the PA’s awareness of continued Iranian support for Hamas and Islamic Jihad, emphasizing the urgency of confronting Iran, particularly given the recent conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon and public opposition to further conflict with Israel.
Axios reports the U.S. has sought Israel’s approval to provide the PA with emergency military aid to support its counter-terrorism efforts in Jenin. This aid package reportedly includes ammunition, protective gear, and armored vehicles. U.S. assistance to the PA has historically ranged from $200 million to $300 million annually, resuming after a freeze under the Trump administration.
Dr. Michael Milshtein, head of the Forum for Palestinian Studies at Tel Aviv University, notes a significant escalation since October 7th, driven by Iranian-backed groups attempting to expand operations in the West Bank, including unsuccessful rocket manufacturing efforts in Jenin. He describes this as a worrying trend, highlighting Jenin’s transformation into a terrorist hub.
The killing of Islamic Jihad commander Yazid Jaysa by PA security forces last weekend heightened tensions, following the deaths of two others in Jenin the previous week. These incidents have fueled resentment, particularly within the Jenin refugee camp, with Daraghmeh stating, “The entire refugee camp is now against the PA.”
PA forces positioned themselves outside the refugee camp on Sunday but were met with resistance, hindering their efforts to regain control. Dozens of militants are prepared to confront them, leaving the PA forces in a stalemate, unable to advance or retreat.
Milshtein, a former head of Palestinian affairs in Israeli Defense Forces military intelligence, points to the PA’s inability to maintain control in northern Samaria, comparing the situation to Gaza, where a security vacuum exists due to the lack of PA control.
The timing of the PA’s operation is considered significant, coinciding with regional events such as the Gaza war and the situation in Syria. Milshtein suggests that PA President Mahmoud Abbas, witnessing the fate of Bashar al-Assad, felt compelled to act before the PA’s authority completely crumbles.
The operation is part of a broader crackdown in the northern West Bank, aiming to strengthen the PA’s position before potential political developments in Gaza. The PA hopes to demonstrate its ability to restore order in the West Bank, thereby bolstering its legitimacy in any future political scenario concerning Gaza.
However, Milshtein expresses skepticism about the PA’s ability to regain control of Gaza, citing the entrenched presence of Hamas and the population’s negative perception of the PA.
Despite the Jenin violence, Daraghmeh believes the conflict remains localized. He notes that residents of other West Bank cities oppose a Gaza-like scenario, viewing the Jenin situation as a test of the PA’s capacity to govern its territory.