As part of the joint operation by the Palestinian Authority and the IDF against terrorists in northern Samaria, dozens of terrorists wanted by the IDF have been arrested by the Palestinian Authority. Is the PA protecting these terrorists so that they will remain outside the IDF’s reach?
About a month ago, the Palestinian Authority launched an operation against the Jenin terror battalion, during which the PA used sniper rifles and armored vehicles, while both sides deployed RPGs. The operation ended in the PA’s failure and with an agreement that recognized the Jenin battalion’s right to fight against Israel.
Following this, the IDF launched Operation "Iron Wall" in Jenin, which has since expanded to other areas in northern Samaria.
Since the start of the IDF’s operation, the number of terrorists arrested by the PA has surged, and the PA has gone from barely managing to arrest any terrorists to detaining dozens of terrorists wanted by the IDF, including senior operatives in the various terror organizations.
Is the PA able to arrest them thanks to intelligence provided by the IDF? If so, why are they not being extradited to Israel? The alternative possibility is that the terrorists are surrendering themselves to the Palestinian Authority in order to enjoy "protective custody"—an arrangement that may be uncomfortable but is still preferable to falling into Israeli hands.
In response to HaKol HaYehudi’s inquiry about whether the PA has handed over the terrorists it arrested who are wanted by Israel, the IDF spokesperson refused to comment. When asked whether the IDF had demanded their extradition, the answer received was: "No comment."
In the period before the outbreak of what is called the "Second Intifada," Arafat used to arrest and release Fatah and Islamic Jihad terrorists in what was known as the "revolving door" policy.
When pressure from Israel increased, or when he feared that a particular terrorist was about to be arrested by Israel, Arafat would detain them—allowing them to leave in the morning and return to prison in the evening.
This way, the terrorists received protection from the Palestinian Authority while Arafat maintained the calm he needed to secure the Wye River agreements on the path to a Palestinian state.
Last Thursday, the IDF arrested the terrorist Qassem al-Aqlik, who was later declared dead. According to reports in Arabic Telegram channels, al-Aqlik, an officer in the Palestinian National Security Forces, was under "protective custody" by the PA in Nablus (Shechem). The IDF took advantage of his departure from the detention facility to eliminate him.
Hamas supporters on social media accused PA officials of allowing him to leave, showing that while they criticize the PA for the arrests, they also understand that the arrests are meant to protect the detainees.
About a week and a half ago, troops from the Shin Bet, Yamam, and the IDF arrested the terrorist Ali Dandis (yemach shemo) in Bethlehem. Dandis is suspected of being a member of the terror cell that murdered David Rubin and Ahikam Amihai HY”D in 2007. Until now, he had been under the PA’s "protective custody".
In this case as well, the IDF exploited an opportunity when the terrorist left jail for some purpose to arrest him.
Another recent case involved the murder of soldiers Sgt. Diego Shuisha Hersaj and Sgt. Elia Hillel HY”D. The soldiers were murdered in a car-ramming attack at the entrance to Nablus. The terrorist surrendered himself to the PA in Nablus, and was ultimately released and allowed. To this day, the terrorist has not been caught.
