Daily Alert Archives

What to Know about Palestinian Security Forces and Their Role in the West Bank

(Washington Post) Miriam Berger - The security forces of the Palestinian Authority followed orders and stayed out of the fighting in Jenin. Days later, when they did appear, it was to fire tear gas at mourners who had pushed Palestinian officials out of a crowd who had gathered to bury members of armed groups killed during the two-day Israeli operation. The Palestinian security forces include the National Security Forces, Presidential Guard, Preventive Security and General Intelligence Services that all report to President Abbas. Abbas has used the security forces to deepen his authoritarian grip, crack down on opponents and reward loyalists. In 2022, Human Rights Watch accused Palestinian authorities of "systematically mistreating and torturing Palestinians in detention." Many Palestinians view the Palestinian Authority and its forces as collaborators with Israel. A June survey by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah found that 66% of Palestinians in the West Bank supported the formation of armed groups outside of the security forces' control.
2023-07-17 00:00:00
Full Article