Last week we exposed efforts by the Mitvim think-tank, funded by the New Israel Fund and a German foundation, to advance establishing a Palestinian state. The documents uncovered revealed that their strategy is to have America apply pressure to force the Israeli government’s hand in the matter. They note that foreign pressure is necessary since Israeli public opinion strongly opposes a Palestinian State.
A recent edition of the Washington Post (Dec. 28th) contains an article by David Ignatius, who is seen as close to the Biden administration. In the article Ignatius says that several "prominent Israelis" have told him that the US must pressure Israel to make wise choices regarding the war because "Netanyahu is unable to make them."
The column describes the approach that the Biden Administration would like Israel to pursue and emphasizes the administration’s goals for the "day after" - namely, the return of the Palestinian Authority to Gaza and strengthening of Palestinian Authority security forces in Gaza and the West Bank. It mentions that Netanyahu opposes these US efforts, but that the administration is determined.
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Ignatius notes that though there is little public awareness about the issue, the US has been involved in supporting the Palestinian Authority security forces for the past 18 years. This support has especially focused on the “Presidential Guard" intended to serve as part of the army of a Palestinian state. The process began with the appointment of a special coordinator, General Keith Dayton, for whom the “Dayton Forces" were named and who built the Presidential consisting of nine trained battalions today. The current coordinator of these forces is US General Mike Fenzel.
Ignatius also notes that the administration also aims to expand the areas of operation of the Palestinian security forces to Area B, beyond what was agreed to in the Oslo Accords. These efforts have become clear in recent years with PA police stations including armed officers operating in many parts of Area B. This is despite the agreement in the Oslo Accords which requires Israeli approval for any armed activity in Area B. Hakol HaYehudi has also previously reported on efforts by Former Central Commander Roni Numa to expand the PA security forces operations to even include Area C, which is supposed to be under full Israeli control.
Ignatius goes on to state that the US aim is for 19,000 former members of the PA security forces in Gaza belonging to the Fatah Party to take control over the strip after the war. Notably, these forces have still received regular salaries since Hamas took control 15 years ago. Hakol HaYehudi has previously reported that members of these PA forces in Gaza boasted of their participation in the Oct. 7th attacks and have launched rockets towards Israel. Ignatius also mentions a US plan for Egypt to train the PA forces in Gaza, similar to Jordan's involvement in training forces in Judea and Samaria.
Finally, Ignatius highlights that for the plan to work, the Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria must be strengthened and so-called “settler violence" must be addressed. He mentions by name Central Commander Yehuda Fox, whose actions against Jewish residents have been criticized by Hakol HaYehudi numerous times, as someone who could be a key partner in applying US pressure. He also says that the Biden administration should seek additional cooperation from officers similar to Fox, who will work against "settler violence" and assist in strengthening the PA security forces.
