US Requests Israel's Support for Palestinian Authority Amid Jenin Operation

The United States has requested that Israel urgently approve the supply of military equipment to the Palestinian Authority (PA) as it conducts a large-scale security operation in Jenin, located in the northern West Bank. The operation is being viewed as a critical moment for the Palestinian leadership, aiming to regain control of the city from local terrorists affiliated with Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas.

In the past weeks, the security situation in Jenin has been deteriorating, with armed groups taking control of the Jenin refugee camp. This move has sparked concern within the Palestinian Authority, fearing that these Islamist militants could overthrow the PA, similar to the collapse of the Assad regime in Syria. The operation, which involves a significant number of Palestinian security forces, is seen as pivotal for both the PA's credibility and its future.

The Biden administration has called on Israel to approve the shipment of crucial military supplies, including helmets, bulletproof vests, ammunition, armored vehicles, and other equipment necessary for PA forces to combat the armed groups. This request was made following a series of violent incidents, including the detonation of a car bomb that wounded several Palestinian officers.

The operation, which also has the backing of Arab countries such as Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, is viewed as a move to ensure that the Palestinian Authority remains the legitimate governing body in the West Bank, preventing an Iranian-backed or Muslim Brotherhood-style takeover. However, Israel’s approval of this request remains uncertain, as the issue of supplying military aid to the PA is politically sensitive.