Palestinian security forces launch a rare crackdown on militants in the West Bank
Associated Press2 days
Palestinian Authority Raids Jenin
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Above: Palestinian security vehicles block the entrances to Jenin camp and prevent movement in the city center and camp in the West Bank on Dec.16, 2024. Image copyright: Nasser Ishtayeh/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The Facts
The Palestinian Authority (PA), which partially administers the West Bank, launched a raid into Jenin over the weekend, deploying armored vehicles and engaging in fierce fighting that has killed multiple people in the area.
The PA set up checkpoints around the city and killed a Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) commander, though the PIJ did not immediately confirm his death. The PA said its goal was to crack down on armed groups in Jenin and to restore security and stability.
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
With Hezbollah severely degraded, the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria, and Hamas' increasing isolation, the PA has launched an offensive to show that it is capable of taking on Iranian-backed terror groups. The PA, known for its weakness and inefficacy, is seeking to show Israel and the US that it can help administer Gaza after the war. Though serious gains are yet to be seen, Israel’s recent successes against Iran may have given the PA new life.
Pro-Palestine narrative
While Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, the PA's Mahmoud Abbas has opportunistically decided that it is in his best interest to further betray the Palestinian cause and target Palestinian resistance factions on the behalf of Israel. Indeed, Abbas has acted as a petty US and Israeli-backed dictator in the West Bank, seeking to personally gain from the occupation. Though the US and Israel may believe that they can force the PA — Israel's subcontractor of the occupation — onto the Palestinian people, the situation can easily turn against them.
