Israel’s security service warns Netanyahu about Palestinian Authority’s collapse: Report

Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security service, has warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the potential collapse of the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a consequence of his government’s policies, according to a report.

Under the Oslo Accords, the PA partially governs the West Bank, which has been under Israeli occupation since 1967. The PA is the de facto, internationally recognised Palestinian government, but it has come under increasing pressure from Netanyahu’s government in recent years, significantly weakening its position.

The Hebrew-language Channel 12 reported that senior Shin Bet officials warned Netanyahu that “we are beginning to see signs of the Palestinian Authority’s collapse”, according to an English translation of the report.

The warning was delivered during a meeting between Netanyahu and security officials concerning the situation in the West Bank.

Shin Bet warns of ‘chaos and escalation’ in West Bank

Shin Bet warned Netanyahu of the risk of “chaos and escalation” in the West Bank should the PA collapse, according to Channel 12.

“The economic situation [of the PA] is dire, unemployment is rising, and members of the security apparatus are either not receiving salaries or are receiving negligible amounts. These factors could lead to chaos and escalation,” Shin Bet officials told Netanyahu.

Shin Bet further advised that, as the PA’s survival ultimately serves Israel’s security interests, steps should be taken to prevent its collapse, such as restoring funds that the Israeli government has withheld from the PA, the report said.

Since May, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has completely blocked the transfer of tax revenues to the PA to the tune of around $270 million. Under the Oslo Accords, Israel collects taxes and customs duties on behalf of the PA and is obligated to transfer the funds. However, Netanyahu’s government has repeatedly withheld such transfers and deducted large sums over the years.

Although Netanyahu has long been a critic of the PA and the Fatah political party that leads it, the PA has played a crucial role in managing security in the West Bank, including coordination with Israeli authorities on law enforcement and counterterrorism. Nevertheless, Netanyahu has systematically sought to weaken the PA — at a time when his far-right allies have pushed for the annexation of the West Bank.

In recent months, the Donald Trump administration of the United States has joined Netanyahu in his campaign against the PA, imposing sanctions on the Palestinian leadership.