May 4, 2016
PA Security Services Dramatically Expand Counterterrorism Efforts – Gili Cohen (Ha’aretz)
PA security services are responsible for 40% of all arrests of suspected terrorists in the West Bank in recent months, according to data from the Israel Defense Forces’ Central Command, representing a dramatic expansion of the PA’s counterterrorism effort.
Until three months ago, they were responsible for only 10% of such arrests.
In light of this increased PA activity, the IDF has reduced its own activity in Area A in recent months. Area A is the part of the West Bank that, under the Oslo Accords, is to be under full Palestinian control.
Three weeks ago, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said the extent of IDF activity in Palestinian cities would depend on how much the PA security services were doing. “If they’ll do the work, why not? What they don’t do, we’ll have to do.”