The PA: Time for Israeli intervention

Dr. Norman Bailey

With Iran's proxies threatening to take over the West Bank, Israel must act swiftly to replace failing Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Every citizen of Israel owes it to him/her/self and to the country to examine carefully what each party and coalition intends to do if it forms part of the next government on all fundamental issues of domestic and foreign policy.

One such issue, and surely among the top three or four in importance, is what to do about that running sore, the West Bank. Successive Israeli governments have been content to kick that political can down the road and leave it to someone else to deal with.

That cannot and will not continue. Sooner rather than later, Mahmoud Abbas will pass from the scene, and if nothing is done in the meantime Hamas and its side-kick, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), will take control from the palsied hands of a terminally-enfeebled Fatah.

When that happens, and it will happen if nothing is done preemptively to prevent it, the West Bank will go from being an annoyance to being an existential threat. Iran's proxies will be on the border of Jerusalem and within spitting distance of the coastal cities of Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Netanya, Hadera, etc.

Several things must be done immediately. One of them is to stop lumping the West Bank and Gaza together as one issue. Gaza was never part of historical Israel (except for during the Herodian period), whereas the West Bank is the heartland of the Israeli people. The threat from Gaza has been contained militarily, as illustrated by the latest attack by PIJ.

Having decoupled the two challenges, the West Bank must be dealt with immediately. What is to be done? Forget for the time being reaching a solution for the problem of the future arrangements between Israel and the "Palestinians"--what is important now is to replace Abbas with a government in Ramallah that will be a serious participant in eventual settlement talks

Luckily, the solution lives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its name is Mohammed Dahlan. Dahlan, who continues to have many adherents in both the West Bank and Gaza, should be assisted by both Israel and the UAE to stage a coup d'etat, replacing Abbas.

Two very serious problems for Israel would simultaneously be resolved: preventing a Hamas/PIJ takeover of the West Bank, and providing Israel with a serious interlocutor in future negotiations over the status of the West Bank.

As a bonus, the "Palestinian" representatives at various regional and international fora will be replaced and Israel-bashing will stop.

Of course, this should be done right away, without waiting for the results of the election and subsequent negotiations. In fact, if successfully carried out, it would greatly enhance the chances of the present government to survive the election and form the next government.

Dr. Norman Bailey is professor of Economic Statecraft at the Galilee International Management Institute, and adjunct professor at the Institute of World Politics, Washington DC. Dr. Bailey was a senior staff member of the National Security Council during the Reagan administration and of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence during the George W. Bush administration.

Published by Globes, Israel business news - en.globes.co.il - on August 25, 2022.

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd., 2022.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli Senseless

When even common courtesy is condemned by political partisans, we are seeing the real threat to Israel's future.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli Stop shouting, start talking

The new government's actions and proposals are not ideal, but not the apocalypse either, and reasoned discourse should produce acceptable solutions.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli 2023 could be a tough diplomatic year for Israel

The war in Ukraine and growing unrest in Iran pose challenges for Israel but the biggest problem will be if Netanyahu is unable to restrain his right-wing coalition partners.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli A tale of two elections

Both elections will seriously affect the future trajectory of Israel and the US, as well as their relations with each other.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli How to stop Israel's endless elections

Restoring stability to Israel's political system requires a couple of fundamental reforms.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli Is the Lebanon deal wonderful or terrible?

Israel's maritime border agreement with Lebanon has met with extravagant praise and vituperative condemnation, but neither side is right.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli In the new year, Israel's problems are mainly at home

The regional outlook is better than for some time, and internationally Israel is well positioned. The dangers lie in social divisions and political dysfunction.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli The PA: Time for Israeli intervention

With Iran's proxies threatening to take over the West Bank, Israel must act swiftly to replace failing Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli Going soft on the regime likeliest to use nukes

Only one country has serious thoughts of triggering Armageddon, and it isn't Russia or China.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli Reform the Israel Police

A string of recent incidents shows how ill-adapted Israel Police is to its task. It must change before things get out of hand.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli Israel needs a constitution now

The current lack of accountability on the part of our politicians is putting the country's very survival at stake.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli Give the people's wealth to the people

Israel's sovereign wealth fund, finally activated, should be used to narrow the country's shockingly wide economic gaps.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli Israel Police clobbers public diplomacy

Israel has recently found effective PR responses to its enemies, but the reality of heavy-handed policing is undermining them.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli Genocide is a word not to be used lightly

The Russian invasion of Ukraine is a crime under international law and atrocities have been committed, but the Russians are not trying to annihilate the Ukrainian people.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli Will Israel's Arabs use their new-found power wisely?

If they do, it could well be to Israel's wider benefit.

Norman Bailey  illustration: Gil Gibli Ukraine: Gains for China, worries for Israel

Russia's invasion of Ukraine looks like another chapter in the rise of China and the waning of the US. As for Israel, its interests do not justify its ambivalence.

Twitter Facebook Linkedin RSS Newsletters גלובס Israel Business Conference 2018