Pessimism in the PA after Netanyahu’s victory
Palestinian Authority (PA) officials are painting a bleak picture of their current state and fear pending developments after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secured his fifth term as Israel’s premier.
Gaza. Photo: Hillel Maeir/TPS
An aide to PA head Mahmoud Abbas said that the outcome of the elections could enable Israel’s annexation of Judea and Samaria, which would spell the end of the Arabs’ dream for a state of Palestine. Ahmed Majdalani, a senior member of the PLO Executive Committee, suggested that the PA seek support in the Arab and international arenas to thwart these plans.
PA pundits opined that Netanyahu will try to implement a model of “Emirates and Cantons,” in which Israel annexes the majority of the land in Judea and Samaria, while islands heavily populated by Arabs will become self-standing emirate or cantons, which will be governed by local municipalities.
Gaza will be declared a separate emirate, under Hamas’ rule. Hamas has already rejected such a possibility.
Other Arab commentators suggested that the PA Arabs now have the legitimacy to take up arms against Israel, as this is the only way to defeat the right-wing government in Israel.
All Arabs speakers agree that the elections’ outcome is terrible for the PA, especially as they pave the way for the implementation of President Donald Trump “Deal of the Century” peace plan, which the PA has rejected even before its publication.
TPS
