Skip to main content

In quest for statehood, Palestinians prepare security plans

Preparing for statehood, Palestinian officials presented detailed security plans and strategies to retired American Gen. John Allen when he came for security talks in 2013-2014 as part of the Kerry peace talks.
Palestinian security forces participate in a parade during a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the al-Karamah battle, in the West Bank city of Hebron, March 22, 2008. The Al-Karamah battle was fought between PLO (Palestinian liberation Organization) fighters and the Jordanian Army against the Israeli Army in 1968.   REUTERS/Nayef Hashlamoun (WEST BANK) - RTR1YN6M
Read in 

With the strengthening of the Islamic State among fundamentalists in the Arab world and elsewhere in the aftermath of the Paris terror attacks on Nov. 13, questions are raised in Israel about the Palestinian ability to maintain security in the eventuality of a two-state solution. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said on numerous occasions recently that in the case of a two-state solution, the Israel Defense Forces would remain in charge of West Bank security.

A senior Palestinian security official in Ramallah with much experience in the field told Al-Monitor, on condition of anonymity, “Netanyahu is daydreaming. With statehood we will be in charge of security in the West Bank and Gaza and we will do it better than the Israelis. Look at Israel, which, with all its superpower military might, has not succeeded in curbing terror, even today when it is sporadic; Israel is not able to fight some dozens of frustrated youths. And it has lost two wars to Hamas, according to any objective observer.”

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.