Israeli cabinet to examine measures to keep Palestinian Authority afloat

On Sunday, the Israeli government will examine measures to support the Palestinian Authority (PA) and prevent its possible collapse, according to Channel 13, particularly an industrial zone in the West Bank town of Tarqumiyah and a “Marine” gas field off Gaza.

More economic measures will be highlighted at Sunday’s meeting. Options such as staggered debt payments, extended opening hours for the Allenby crossing and the issuance of biometric passports.

Senior PA officials could also see their VIP privileges reinstated, which were revoked in January following their support for an anti-Israel resolution at the UN. These discussions come in the wake of defense recommendations to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strengthen the governing body in Ramallah, to avoid a deterioration of the situation in the West Bank.

Israeli authorities reportedly fear the collapse of the PA, which would risk creating a power vacuum in the West Bank, opening the door to terrorist groups, a situation similar to that in Gaza where Hamas took power by force in 2007.

Among the reasons for its financial crisis, the PA’s continued insistence to pay the families of terrorists resulted in monthly deductions from the taxes collected by Israel for Ramallah. In addition, there has been a steady decline of international aid.

As a result, the PA has gradually lost control of the northern West Bank, allowing terrorist groups to gain ground, as in Jenin, a town that has become “a terrorist hideout”, according to the Israeli army.