Palestinian security services recently destroyed secret documents for fear of Israeli forces entering Palestinian-controlled areas in the West Bank, parts of which Israel wants to annex, Palestinian security sources told AFP.
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During the second Intifada (Palestinian uprising in 2000-2005), the Israeli army had entered several offices of the Palestinian security services to get hold of confidential documents. Several Palestinian security sources speaking on condition of anonymity say the services fear a similar scenario will occur, as the Israeli government must decide from July 1 on its strategy for implementing the plan. American for the Near East.
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It provides for Israel's annexation of the Jordan Valley and settlements in the occupied West Bank, which could lead to renewed tensions, observers said.
"We received orders to destroy confidential documents in our possession and we obeyed this order" , told AFP a security source on condition of anonymity, adding that the order came from " top. ” According to this source, who did not wish to clarify the nature of these documents, the security services began to destroy them a month ago, after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced that he would end security coordination with the Hebrew State.
"Secret places"
Another security source, who requested anonymity, said some documents were destroyed after being scanned and transferred to USB sticks, which were then placed in "secret places". A third security source confirmed this information to AFP. According to the 1993 Oslo Accords, the Palestinian Authority controls all Palestinian cities in the West Bank, but the Israeli military can enter them to make arrests, in coordination with local authorities.
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But in mid-May, President Abbas said he no longer felt bound by the agreements with Israel, saying that the Israeli plan for annexation proved that the Hebrew state was no longer respecting their agreements.
Analysts said the end of security cooperation could threaten relative calm in the West Bank, home to 2.7 million Palestinians and more than 450,000 Israelis, who live in settlements deemed illegal by international law. Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh recently warned of a "hot summer" if the Hebrew state went ahead with its annexation plan.
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