“Rather than confronting the security threat posed by the Palestinian Authority, the United Kingdom and other countries have chosen to impose sanctions on civilian leaders in Judea and Samaria,” said Yisrael Ganz, Governor of the Binyamin Regional Council and Chairman of the Yesha Council, in response to the new sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom and other countries on “settler” entities and individuals, as well as Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
“Strengthening the Palestinian Authority does not advance peace or stability; it increases the security risk facing every Israeli citizen. With the financial support it receives from foreign governments, the Palestinian Authority continues to fund terrorists and their families, promote incitement to terrorism through its education system, and maintain an armed force of tens of thousands of members of its security services just minutes from Jerusalem and Israel’s central population centers,” he stated.
AFSI Insight
The latest sanctions demonstrate the futility of relying on the Palestinian Authority as a partner for peace. Rather than succumbing to pressure from European nations, Israel should move toward extending sovereignty in Judea and Samaria and reducing the authority and influence of the PA, which is an obstacle to security and Jewish historical rights in the region. Rewarding the PA while punishing Israeli communities sends a dangerous message that terrorism and diplomatic warfare against Israel yield results.