Analyst: PA halting of security coordination with Israel ‘political tactic’

A political analyst has played down the seriousness of the Palestinian Authority’s decision to halt security coordination with Israel, saying it was only a political tactic.

Palestinian political analyst, Sari Orabi, said President Mahmoud Abbas’ decision to cease contact with Israel was an effort to cope with the recent escalations in East Jerusalem.

There is a national consensus on the issue of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian Authority could not take an opposing position

Orabi said in an interview with Quds Press.

According to Orabi, the Palestinian Authority’s stability is closely linked to the continuation of the security coordination with Israel which is also linked to conditions on the ground.

He noted that the security coordination did not stop even during the outbreak of the Second Intifada.

Read: Majority of Palestinians oppose Abbas’ actions against Gaza

The PA is expected to reverse its decision, Orabi added, because it was taken as a political tactic and does not reflect a “shift in the PA political approach and behaviour”.

Israel Hayom newspaper revealed yesterday that Abbas has decided to resume security coordination with Israel.

“After Israel re-established the situation in Al-Aqsa as it was prior to July 14, Abbas held consultations with the Palestinian leadership and with the head of the intelligence service Majid Faraj. It was then decided to resume security coordination and economic cooperation with Israel,” the paper quoted a Palestinian official as saying.

According to the paper, a source in Abbas’ office said that resuming the security coordination will be gradual and according to developments on the ground.