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"The Only Ones Who Suffered from the Suspension of Security Coordination Were the Palestinians"

(Jerusalem Post) Khaled Abu Toameh - The Palestinian Authority recently decided to renew security and civil relations with Israel - five months after PA President Mahmoud Abbas announced he was walking away from all agreements and understandings with Israel and the U.S. He also agreed to accept the tax revenues collected by Israel for the PA. "President Abbas wanted to punish Israel but ended up punishing his own people," said Samer Abdeen, a businessman from Ramallah. "By refusing to accept our tax revenues from Israel, President Abbas was actually punishing tens of thousands of civil servants, who since June received only half of their salaries." In addition to public employees, Abbas faced increased pressure from shopkeepers, restaurant owners and many small businesses hit hard by coronavirus restrictions. The suspension of civil coordination also had a negative impact on Palestinians in need of medical treatment in Israel. "Those who initially applauded President Abbas' decision to sever all relations were later complaining that it was a very bad and uncalculated move," said a veteran journalist from Ramallah. Similarly, the same Palestinians who praised Abbas for suspending security coordination with Israel later complained about the absence of law enforcement and security in the 440 Palestinian villages in Area B of the West Bank, where PA security forces had stopped operating. "We thought that the suspension of the security coordination would hurt Israel," said Jamal Alawi, of Abbas' Fatah faction in Eizariya. "But...when you pull out the police forces from Palestinian villages, the only ones who suffer are the Palestinians."
2020-12-14 00:00:00
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