Arming the PA • Smotrich and Ben Gvir are furious: Is Bibi leaning to the left?

September 13, 2023   

Minister Bezalel Smotrich did not know about arming the Palestinian Authority with weapons, and those around him say he is "boiling with rage.". Opportunity: Want to participate in a rescue operation for women and children from an Arab village? The assessment among Smotrich's entourage is that the steps to arm the PA, as well as the steps to compromise in the President's office, are "a payment to Benny Gantz in order to form a left-wing government with him that will strive to revive the Oslo Accords." Smotrich is convening an urgent consultation this morning. A member of Smotrich's party, MK Zvi Sukkot, responded to the report on arming the PA: "Terrible and terrible. If it's true, I don't know how to live with it in any way. We didn't come to play." National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir sent a threat to Netanyahu: "Mr. Prime Minister, if you don't commit with your voice that the publications about transferring weapons to Palestinian Authority terrorists are wrong - there will be consequences. If you intend to strive for an Oslo 2 government, please inform your ministers and the public and we will act accordingly." Earlier this week, it was reported that the Palestinian Authority received from the United States, via Jordan and with the approval of the Israeli government, weapons and armored vehicles to be used for "enforcing law and order." According to a publication in the Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds, the purpose of the shipment is to strengthen the capacity of the mechanisms in the fight against terrorist organizations in Jenin and Nablus. According to various publications in media outlets in Israel and abroad, the Palestinian security forces will receive approximately 1,500 rifles and combat equipment. They will also be given armored vehicles, explosives-detecting dogs, and means to disperse demonstrations, including batons, stun grenades, and tear gas. Israel Hayom correspondent Dana Ben Shimon reported last night that they will also receive advanced spy equipment and will train cyber experts. According to a report in the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation, Israel has set several conditions for the Authority to use the weapons: 1. They can only be used for anti-terror activities and not against criminals. 2. The weapons will only be in the hands of some of the security forces - the General Security, Preventive Intelligence, and the police. Palestinian security sources said that the Authority requested the weapons and equipment more than a year ago, but Israel had previously refused. The approval was received following the summits in Aqaba and Sha'mar, after a discussion with the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. The equipment was transferred in recent days from US bases in Jordan, and passed through the Allenby Crossing with full Israeli approval. Israeli security sources said that this is one step in a series of additional steps being considered in favor of the PA. The continuation of the steps is conditional on two things: a presentation of the PA's operational achievements and the official return of the security coordination that was declaratively stopped by Abbas at the beginning of the year. It's not just Smotrich and Ben Gvir who are angry: Ministers expressed their anger in the internal WhatsApp group of government ministers following the decision. According to a report in 'Kan News', some government ministers criticized the fact that it was not even put to a vote in the cabinet. Government Secretary Yossi Fox tried to calm them down. - Minister Orit Struck of Religious Zionism: "Don't give them guns. If they don't know how to handle Jenin, Tulkarm and Nablus "They should step aside and let us handle it. They don't kill terrorists anyway, they just take them to prison under hotel conditions, and even if they confiscate weapons from the terrorists - they don't transfer them to us, but take them for themselves. Don't we know that all these weapons will be turned against us?"" - Minister Amichai Shikli of the Likud: "It's simply bizarre, it's a shame there's no discussion at least in the cabinet before the Authority is authorized to receive such measures. As if we've forgotten that at the head of the Authority is one of the greatest Israel-haters, a Holocaust denier and anti-Semite, with his members in the RMC and his members in the SAA."" - Government Secretary Yossi Fox: "Your Honor, such issues belong only in the Cabinet and not in a WhatsApp group"" - Minister Amichai Eliyahu of Otzma Yehudit: "My dear Yossi, we have no answers for ourselves. This is not just a question of what we explain in the media. This is not just a matter for the cabinet. This is how we sleep at night."" - Minister Yoav Kish from the Likud: "Orit, such decisions were probably made in the forum where your party chairman is. I suggest you talk to him. The same goes for Amichai. This WhatsApp group is not an alternative to the cabinet. It is for ministerial updates only."" - Strok: "Government ministers are allowed to express their opinion on such a shocking step. Certainly after Shiki and I inquired yesterday about the previous step that was revealed (weapons and armor), and we were told that there was no cabinet discussion because 'there was no need'"" - Kish: "Orit, thank you for reinforcing my words. A discussion should be held in the cabinet, and in my opinion, the chairman of your movement is a member of the cabinet."" - Strok: "None of this was discussed in the cabinet"" - Minister Moshe Arbel of the Shas: "Unlikely 😉"" - Strok: "What are we, the Oslo III government?"" According to 'Israel Hayom', a senior government official confirmed that consent was given to transfer the weapons to the PA, and even justified the move. However, he said, there is no truth in the report about granting cyber tools to the Palestinians. However, those around the Defense Minister deny this and say: "Contrary to the false representation emerging from the various reports, since Defense Minister Yoav Galant took office, no transfer of lethal weapons or weapons to the Palestinian Authority has been approved. Any attempt to present things differently is false and untrue." The chairman of the State Camp faction, MK Ze'ev Elkin, responded: "A right-wing government in full swing? Ben Gvir came out with a pita yesterday, Smotrich came out with a pastry today. Netanyahu is turning his government into a bakery, only that Palestinian terrorism continues to rage." The 'Choose for Life' forum of bereaved families and victims of terrorism reported: "The truth must be told. Arming the Palestinian Authority harms the security of Israeli citizens. This is a terrorist entity that never stops inciting murder and sabotage. It educates, incites, and pays salaries and rewards to murderers of Israelis. It is impossible for a right-wing government to repeat the mistakes of Oslo in the belief that terrorist gangs will keep us safe. "We call on you, government ministers, to come to your senses and do everything to stop the madness.".