Liberman warns Palestinian elections could repeat 2006 Hamas victory, calls to dismantle PA
Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman warned that November 28's Palestinian legislative elections could pose a security threat to Israel, drawing parallels to Hamas' 2006 victory and criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's policy of "containment" towards the Palestinian Authority. In a letter to Netanyahu, Liberman wrote, "Bibi, the father of containment, continues the same policy in the context of Judea and Samaria."
Two weeks hence, on November 28, Palestinian Authority elections are set to take place. The last time these elections occurred, in 2006, Hamas emerged victorious and subsequently gained control over the Gaza Strip, with only the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) preventing a similar occurrence in Judea and Samaria. Liberman emphasized that the Palestinian Central Elections Commission is preparing for these elections, with preparations for Jerusalem and Gaza remaining critical areas requiring further development.
He underscored that the 2006 lessons should serve as a cautionary tale for Israel as it approaches the upcoming vote. Hamas has indicated its intention to participate in these elections as part of a larger national coalition, raising concerns about the potential for Hamas to regain political influence once again. Liberman also highlighted the growth of Palestinian security services, claiming their expansion to nearly 60,000 personnel, comprising various specialized units.
He argued that these arrangements, under the Oslo framework, are intended to facilitate a future confrontation with Israel. Liberman further criticized the Palestinian Authority, stating that it should be dismantled after 33 years of the Oslo process, concluding that the experiment has failed and the agreements have proven ineffective.
The elections come 20 years after the last Palestinian legislative vote, where Hamas secured 74 out of 132 seats, compared to Fatah's 45. Following the power struggle, Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
