Zero surprises: The defense establishment prepared in advance for the announcement of Abu Mazen, who accused Israel of refusing to hold elections in East Jerusalem • Assessment: Hamas may resume violent demonstrations and rocket fire
Abu Mazen's speech
Photo:
Reuters
Prepared in advance:
Israel was not surprised last night by the announcement of the chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Abu Mazen, who accused Israel of refusing to hold elections in East Jerusalem.
Israel has assumed that the PA chairman will cancel the election on the pretext that Israel did not respond to his request to allow elections in East Jerusalem.
The security establishment waited yesterday to see what the reactions were in the Palestinian street to the PA chairman's announcement. For the possibilities of riots in Judea and Samaria, as well as for individual attacks.
Blaming Israel
The hope in the defense establishment is that the response on the Palestinian street will be minor, but the Southern Command and the Central Command have prepared for a harsh response.
This coming weekend is expected to be a test period for security developments in the Palestinian arena.
It will be recalled that the Israeli interest is to keep the Palestinian arena calm and quiet in the face of the challenges facing Israel in the northern arena and vis-à-vis Iran.
This was also one of the reasons why, despite firing more than 40 rockets last weekend, the Israeli response was only minor, and mainly included a reduction in sea fishing space.
Yesterday morning, Israel announced the lifting of the restrictions it imposed on fishing.
Earlier in the day, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, known as Abu Mazen, delivered a speech amid estimates that the Palestinian elections would be postponed. government.
"EU representatives confirmed to us that the Israeli side does not allow elections to be held in East Jerusalem. The Europeans said there was no use and the Israelis would never allow elections," Abu Mazen said in a speech in the Muqata.
"We sent the Palestinian foreign minister to Europe and said we were waiting for a response from the Israelis regarding the holding of elections in East Jerusalem. We issued presidential orders for the elections, and we waited for a response on their existence in Jerusalem and received no response," Abu Mazen said.
In addition, the chairman of the PA claimed that Israel attacked activists in the east of the capital, and did not allow them to carry out activities as part of the campaign. Abbas also referred to events in Jerusalem and said:
The world has seen the violence of the Israeli government and the settlers.
I say 'no' to anyone who claims that a united Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. "
Meanwhile, the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University has in recent days conducted a simulation on the subject, from which it emerged that the PA will find it difficult to continue to hold the reins of power.
