By Ali Sawafta and James Mackenzie
JENIN, West Financial institution (Reuters) – Palestinian Authority safety forces have battled Islamist fighters in Jenin for days, as they wrestle to exert management of one of many historic centres of militancy within the West Financial institution forward of a possible shakeout in Palestinian politics after the Gaza conflict.
Forces of the PA, which workout routines restricted self-rule within the Israeli-occupied West Financial institution, moved into Jenin in early December and have since clashed with fighters from Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Not less than three folks have been killed, together with a senior Islamic Jihad commander and two civilians. The U.N. humanitarian company OCHA has referred to as for an investigation into what it referred to as violations of human rights regulation by the Palestinian forces.
Closely armed Palestinian safety forces in armoured personnel carriers have set up checkpoints across the metropolis and outdoors the adjoining refugee camp, the place there have been repeated protests by residents towards the operation.
Residents say the behaviour of the PA safety forces resembles the way in which the Israeli military has historically acted in Jenin. Town and refugee camp have lengthy been a centre of Palestinian militancy, the place fighters have clashed with Israeli forces mounting large-scale raids that left trails of smashed roads and infrastructure.
“The PA does not have bulldozers like the (Israeli) army does. That is the only difference. The raid is the same, the blockade is the same,” mentioned Jenin resident Malek Jaber.
Brigadier Normal Anwar Rajab, spokesperson of the Palestinian safety forces, mentioned “outlaws” who had taken over Jenin camp had been arrested and can be delivered to justice. The operation was geared toward imposing order and safety and would proceed till the targets have been achieved, he mentioned.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, who visited Jenin with Palestinian safety leaders on the weekend, mentioned the operation ought to restore safety “on the way towards the creation of an independent state”.
Nonetheless, the operation has provoked robust opposition in Jenin and there have been violent clashes in different West Financial institution cities together with Tubas within the Jordan Valley and Tulkarm within the north.
‘PROVE ITS WORTH’
The timing of the operation is an indication that the PA has to “prove its worth” because it seeks to uphold its position within the West Financial institution whereas making ready for a doable future position in Gaza, mentioned Hani al-Masri, a Palestinian political analyst in Ramallah.
The Palestinian Authority was set up three many years in the past below the Oslo interim peace accords and given restricted authority within the West Financial institution and Gaza, the place Palestinians hope for an unbiased state. It was pushed out of Gaza by Hamas in a 2007 civil conflict.
For the reason that Oct. 7, 2023 assaults on Israel by Hamas-led fighters, Israel has vowed to drive Hamas out of Gaza. Israel says it additionally believes the PA shouldn’t have any position in Gaza after the conflict, however most Western and Arab international locations say Gaza have to be run by Palestinians and so they count on a job for the PA.
Michael Mihlshtein, a former Israeli navy intelligence officer and one in every of Israel’s main consultants on Palestinian affairs, agreed that PA President Mahmoud Abbas was attempting to indicate drive now, forward of an anticipated post-war settlement.
“There is very broad pressure on him to do something if he wants to be considered as a relevant player for the day after in Gaza,” mentioned Milshtein.
He famous that the operation in Jenin additionally follows a ceasefire in Lebanon, the autumn of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and the election of Donald Trump in the USA, occasions that depart the area’s future unsettled.
Israel accuses the PA of failing to manage militant teams within the occupied West Financial institution. The PA says Israel, which has navy management over the territory, intentionally undermines its authority.
PA officers say one of many goals of the operation is to forestall Hamas and Islamic Jihad from creating the sort of rule within the West Financial institution that opened the way in which for Israel to destroy Gaza.
Regardless of efforts at reconciliation, Fatah, the principle faction behind the PA, has thus far didn’t agree with Hamas on how Gaza must be dominated after the preventing.
(James Mackenzie reported from Jerusalem; Enhancing by Howard Goller and Peter Graff)