Skip to main content

Israel Keeps Palestinian Authority on Life Support

Adnan Abu Amer examines Israel's attitudes and policies toward the Palestinian Authority, and its interest in keeping the PA weakened but alive.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (front row 2nd L) waves during a rally marking the U.N. General Assembly's upgrading of the Palestinians' status from "observer entity" to "non-member state", in the West Bank city of Ramallah December 2, 2012. Israel said on Sunday it was withholding this month's transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority, after the United Nations' de facto recognition of a Palestinian state.  REUTERS/Ammar Awad (WEST BANK - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST)

While stalemate dominates the Palestinian political scene on multiple levels, big questions have begun to arise regarding the future of the Palestinian Authority (PA). The prospect of the authority’s collapse or dissolution has sparked heated debates amongst Palestinians and Israelis, as President Mahmoud Abbas recently threatened to relinquish control to Israel.

As collapse and dissolution loom on the horizon, the dimensions of this crisis should be analyzed from two crucial angles:

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.